Improvements in Rocking Horses.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 19th Oct., 1895
Improvements in Rocking Horses.
I, JOSEF KRACHENFELS, of 152 Oranienstrasse, Berlin, Germany, Piano forte
Maker, 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 a rocking horse which is mounted on a frame and is
capable of being propelled by the rocking action of the horse and also of being
casily steered or guided.
The annexed drawing shows the device in side elevation with a part in section.
The rocking horse a bears with its rocker b upon a frame c which is capable of
moving on wheels d, e. The front wheel d is mounted in the jaw q of a vertical
axle or pivot d' passed up through a bearing p in the frame c, whilst the hind
wheels, e, of which there are two, are mounted on a cross shaft g carried by two
brackets fone of which is shown. A small pinion wheel h, gearing with a larger
wheel i, is also keyed on the shaft g. The wheel is mounted on the shaft k, which
is carried by the brackets f, and is provided with a crank actuated from the
rocker 6 by means of the connecting rod m.
To prevent the horse sliding off the frame and to keep it steadily in position two
bent spurs o are fitted to the rocker b, and, as the latter rocks, pass freely up and
down through guide slots n made in the frame c
In order to turn the wheel d, so as to steer the horse, the pivot or axle d¹ is
provided with a cross bar r to which the reins s are fixed. These reins, as shown,
pass through guide rings t, t, t, secured respectively to the rocker b and the collar
of the horse.
With this device, when the horse is rocked, the connecting rod m actuates the
crank and so turns the shaft k and gear wheels i, h, thereby revolving the back
wheels e and propelling the horse forward. The rocking horse is steered by pulling
the reins s at each backward toss of the horse.
The novel features of my invention consist, as pointed out in the claims, in the
method of propelling the frame c by the mere rocking of the horse and in the
method of steering.
Obviously the device could be propelled by directly connecting the rod m to a
crank on the axle 9 of the rear wheels wheels e.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I consider novel and desire to claim is :-
1. A rocking horse mounted on a travelling frame which is propelled forward by
the rocking motion of the horse being communicated by connecting rod and crank
gear to the wheels, substantially as herein before described with reference to the
drawing annexed.
2. The steering mechanism of the rocking horse consisting of the front wheel d,
connected to the pivot or axle d', which is provided with a cross bar r having
reins s attached to it by means of which the rider, when on the horse's back, can
guide the device, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown on the drawing
annexed.
Dated this 7th day of Santamber 1905
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70 Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.