Improvements in Hobby or Rocking Horses.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Apr., 1889-Accepted, 29th June, 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hobby or Rocking Horses.
I GEORGE COLE of the firm of George Cole and Company of 13 and 15 Finsbury
Street in the City of London Merchants and Manufacturers do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in rocking horses somewhat of that character
known as American Hobby horses and has for its object the improved arrangement
construction and mounting of the parts whereby obtain additional and novel com-
bination of movements to those hitherto or ordinarily obtained and also such
improved rocking horses are capable of being made locomotive if desired part of my
present invention being designed as an improvement upon an invention for which
George Lundberry received Letters Patent dated the 13th November 1886
No. 14761.
And in order that my present invention may be easily understood and readily
carried into practice I will proceed to fully describe the same with reference to the
drawings hereunto annexed in which
Figure 1 is a side view of my improved rocking horse---the lower part being partly
in section.
Figure 2 is a transverse view of the mountings (without the horse attached).
Figures 3 and 4 show enlarged detail views of parts of the apparatus and
Figures 5 and 6 show one device for obtaining locomotion which may or may not
be used as desired.
a a are two vibrating standards or supports (advantageously metal tubes) inounted
on cross bars 6 the latter having their axes turning in the frame or stand c which
carries the horse and all its gear as shown.
The bars 6 have arms 6' formed thereon (or rigidly connected thereto) to which
suitable strong springs d are attached the other end of each of these springs being
secured to a hook e adjustable in the frame c (as shown in Figure 1) so as to be able
to tighten or slacken the springs as required.
A double forked crosshead (advantageously formed of cast iron with a socket /'¹)
is mounted upon the upper end of the support a by means of the said hollow
socket f¹.
This double forked crosshead is shown in detail in Figures 3 and 4 its forks fƒ³
being each forked again. Figure 4 is a side view of the fork f" (Figure 3) looking in
the direction of the arrow marked x.
In the forks f and respectively (which latter fork is identical with Figure 4)
are swung the large bearings g' of the swinging arms g respectively the inner side
of these bearings abutting (as shown in Figure 3) against the tie rod or tie bar h
which connects the two supports a together this tie rod h being secured in its position
between the abutting sides g of the enlarged bearing gl by means of the bolt i rivetted
or otherwise firmly secured in its place-this tie rod being free to turn on the
bolt . The object of these large bearings g¹ is mainly to obtain greater steadiness in
the swinging movement.
:
On each side of the belly of the horse is rigidly secured a bracket m by means of
the lug or flange n formed thereon or by other suitable means and each such bracket m
is pivotted or jointed at the two points m' m² (front and back) to a swinging arm g
are projections or
suspended on each of the supports a as shown at Figure 1. m* m*
rests for the feet of the rider.
Thus upon the rider mounting the horse it can sway to and fro on the four suspended
arms g rocking on their enlarged bearings g¹ as before described (a stop g³ is provided
to prevent this rocking action going too far) and also a second and longer. rocking

page_text: action is obtained on the vibrating arms a a the pull of the distended springs d d
assisting the motion and always serving to restore the horse to its normal position that
is its bighest position as in Figure 1.
Thus a novel and graceful ride is obtained by means of this double rocking motion
such motion being parallel or approximatety parallel with the ground.
For some purposes and as a cheaper production the springs d may be dispensed
rigidly fixed upright in a suitable frame so that only a single
with and the arms a a
rocking motion is obtained.
Referring to Figures 5 and 6 when it is desired this improved rocking horse can
easily be made to propel itself and rider by means of the frame c being mounted on
three or more wheels. On the axle o of a pair of travelling wheels is rigidly keyed or
fixed two rachet wheels p over each of which a hollow wheel g is mounted loosely on
the axle o and on the inner side of each such hollow wheels is mounted a pawl r
which gear with the ratchet te eth of each ratchet wheel and these hollow wheels or
hubs gare alternately revolved about half a turn by the flexible connections which
are secured to the vibrating arm a above and below the axis of the arm a respectively
as shown.
The wheels are restored to their normal positions so as take up the slack in the
flexible connections & and t respectively by means of a spring or springs (not shown).
as it is well understood with pawl and ratchet arrangements for rotating purposes of
this description.
Other suitable means of transmitting the rocking motion to the axle or axles of the
travelling wheels may be adapted if desired.
These locomotive rocking horses may run on rails or if not a steering wheel or
wheels may be arranged for a second person to steer such persons being provided
with a seat at the back or front of the framework or carriage or the steering may be
effected in any other suitable manner.
In the case of large sized horses the belly of the horse may be hollow (or the body
of the horse may be a shell of stamped sheet metal) for the purpose of receiving the
upper parts of the rocking apparatus so that a longer ride is obtainable without com-
paratively increasing the height from the ground parts of the apparatus being thus
concealed from view.
A number of these improved rocking horses may be mounted side by side for letting
out purposes at fairs or other places of public resort.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I would remark that I
make no claim separately to any of those parts for which the said Lundberry received
the said Letters Patent-but I declare that what I do claim is :-
1. An improved hobby or rocking horse in which the body of the horse is carried
on brackets or other like suitable supports secured to the belly of the horse said
brackets being jointed to the lower ends of swinging arms such arms having enlarged
hearings in or on crossheads mounted on columns or other suitable fixed supports
placed in a central position under the horse substantially in the manner and for the
purposes set forth.
2. The improved double action hobby or rocking horse in which the body of the
horse is carried on brackets or other like suitable supports m secured to the belly of
the horse these brackets m being jointed to the lower ends of the swinging arms g
such arms g having enlarged bearings g¹ in or on the crossheads f mounted on the top
of the vibrating arms or columns a and arranged to produce the double rocking action
all substantially as herein before described and represented in the drawings hereunto
annexed.
3. The combination of the double action hobby or rocking horse as last claimed
with a pawl and ratchet wheel arrangement for the purpose of locomotion substantially
as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings
annexed.
4. In conjunction with hobby or rocking horses I claim the swinging arms g having.

page_text: the enlarged bearings gl on the upper end thereof with stop g³ on top of g¹ arranged
to act substantially in the manner and for the purposes set forth.
5. In conjunction with hobby or rocking horses I claim the crosshead mounted
on either fixed or vibrating arms a and having the double forks ff' formed therein
in which arms g swing on their bearings g¹ with a stop g³ arranged to act substantially
in the manner and for the purposes set forth.
6. The improved general arrangement and construction of hobby or rocking horses
substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein before described and illustrated
in the drawings hereunto annexed.
1000
TONGUE & BIRKBECK
34, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.