Patent Publication Number: US-3874111-A

Title: Toy bulldozer

Description:
United States Patent [191 Pauly et al.  
 [[ Apr. 1,1975  
 [ TOY BULLDOZER [75] Inventors: Ronald R. Pauly, Mound; Curtis H.  
 F ahrendorff, Minneapolis, both of Minn.  
 [73] Assignee: Tonka Corporation, Hopkins, Minn.  
 [22] Filed: Jan. 30, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 437,881  
 [52] U.S. Cl. 46/40 [51] Int. Cl A63h 33/30 [58] Field of Search 46/214, 215, 40  
 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2.557.851 6/1951 Warner 46/40 2.563.974 8/1951 Thierry 46/40 2.702.963 3/1955 Swcnson 46/40 2.812.869 11/1957 Nisperly 46/40 X 2.985.983 5/1961 Konstenius 46/40 3.161.987 12/1964 Decker 3.462.874 8/1969 Pauly et a1. 3.711.990 1/1973 Pfeilsticker 46/214 Primary ExaminerLouis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-.1. Q. Lever Attorney, Agent, or F irmDouglas L. Carlsen; Andrew E. Carlsen [57] ABSTRACT A toy bulldozer including a tractor having a dozer blade extending across the front thereof with arms extending rearwardly from the blade on either side of the tractor and having their rear ends pivoted to the tractor on a common transverse axis, and a control mechanism for raising and lowering the blade about said pivot axis comprising a handle having its lower end pivoted to the blade and extending upwardly therefrom slidably through a simulated hydraulic cylinder of resilient plastic material which is mounted on the front portion of the tractor. Catch means are provided for releasably locking the handle at various positions of vertical adjustment with the blade at different elevations.  
 2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures APR&#39; 1 I975 3,8 74.1l1  
 saaznzurz TOY BULLDOZER This invention relates generally to miniature toy vehicles and more particularly concerns toy bulldozers or the like wherein an earthmoving blade is mounted on the vehicle extending crosswise to the direction of travel and wherein the blade is vertically adjustable between different positions of elevation.  
  Manufacturers of miniature toy vehicles are constantly trying to simulate both the appearance and operation of the full sized vehicle in the toy. Heretofore, toy bulldozers have generally comprised a tractor with a front dozer blade which is vertically movable by some sort of lever mechanism. This is not realistic of the full counterpart where such dozer blades are now generally vertically adjusted by means of hydraulic cylinders.  
  The object of the present invention is to provide a miniature toy bulldozer wherein the dozer blade is adjusted to its various positions through a hand control device which simulates a hydraulic cylinder in appearance and in some respects in operation.  
  With this and other objects in mind the invention broadly comprises a toy bulldozer wherein the bulldozer blade has a handle which is mounted for vertical sliding movement in simulated hydraulic cylinders to give the appearance of hydraulic cylinders operating the blade adjustment. Catch means acting between the handle and cylinders lock the blade in adjusted position.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is aside elevation ofthe toy bulldozer with the dozer blade positioned at ground level.  
  FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the front portion of a bulldozer embodying the present invention.  
 FIG. 3 is a transverse section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1 and looking forwardly.  
 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularly to the drawings reference numerals will be used to denote like structural parts or features in the different views. A toy tractor has front wheels 11 and rear wheels 12 at each side. A track 14 of flexible resilient material is trained around the pair of wheels 11, 12 on each side of the tractor. The tractor 10 includes a front end portion 15 as well as side portions 16.  
  A bulldozer blade 17 extends crosswise in front of tractor l2 and is connected to a pair of L-shaped brackets or arms 18 each of which has its forward portion 19 integrally secured to the blade and then extends rearwardly alongside the tractor with its rear end journaled on a pin 20 extending laterally from the adjacent side portion 16. Blade 17 is thus movable in a generally vertical direction about the axis of pins 20.  
  The device for adjusting blade 17 and securing it in a desired position of adjustment is denoted generally by the numeral 22. This comprises a U-shaped handle 24 having a bight portion 25 connecting parallel legs 26 at their upper ends. At their lower ends legs 26 are provided with aligned terminals 27 which are journaled in apertured tabs 28 mounted on the bracket portions 19 and extending rearwardly therefrom. Each of the legs 26 has upper and lower catches denoted respectively at 29 and 30 formed on the rear side thereof.  
  A pair of simulated hydraulic cylinders 31 are mounted one on each side of the front end portions 15 of the tractor. These are tubular shaped members of relatively rigid plastic material which are split up the rear side leaving the open slot 32 through which the legs 26 can be inserted into the members during assernbly. At approximately their longitudinal centers the members 31 have integrally formed U-shaped collars 34 each of which has a pair of laterally spaced tabs 35 which are journaled on a cross pin 36 mounted to extend transversely through the tractor front portion 15. Pin 36 is spaced relative to the catches 29 and 30 so as to interfere with smooth longitudinal sliding movement of legs 26 in members 31. The numeral 37 denotes a simulated hydraulic line which leads from the upper end of one member 31 through the front portion 15 of the tractor to the upper end of the other member 31. Accordingly, both members 31 and line 37 are formed as a single molded plastic part.  
  In normal operating position with the dozer blade in scraping relation along the surface of ground G, the handle 24 is in its lowered position as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. In this position the catches 29 and 30 on the legs 26 will be below the pin 36 as shown in FIG. 4. The engagement between the catches 29 and the pin 36 will yieldably retain the dozer blade in this lowered position.  
  The blade 17 may be raised to an intermediate position or to a fully raised transport position by pulling upwardly on the handle bight portion 25. As the catches 29 and 30 are forced to cam over pin 36, the member 3] acts as a spring and the upper and lower ends thereof will flex upwardly shown in FIG. 5 allowing the catches to pass over the pin. By the same token members 31 yieldably retain the dozer blade in any adjusted position.  
  Obviously, the adjustment of the dozer blade is about the axis of pin 20. It will also be understood that the handle 24 and members 31 will tilt about the axis of pin 36 during raising or lowering of the blade.  
  Having now therefore fully illustrated and described our invention, what we claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:  
 1. In a toy bulldozer,  
 a. a tractor,  
 b. a bulldozer blade extending across the front of the tractor with a pair of arms extending rearwardly from the blade one on each side of the tractor and having their rear ends pivoted to the tractor on a common horizontal axis extending transversely of the tractor,  
 c. an inverted U-shaped handle having parallel legs extending downwardly one on each side of the tractor with their lower ends pivotally connected to the rear side of the bulldozer blade,  
 d. a pair ofelongated cylinders mounted one on each side of the tractor each slidably receiving one of said handle legs, and  
 e. locking means acting between at least one of said legs and cylinderfor releasably locking the leg in various positions therein.  
 2. The subject matter of claim 1 wherein said cylinders are pivotally mounted on a pin extending through the tractor and cylinders, said pin forming a part of said locking means.