US2596216A - Worm simulating toy - Google Patents

Description

May 13, 1952 c. F. DAwsoN woRM SIMULATING Toy Filed June 16. 1950 CLIFFORD F. DAWSON AT TORNEYS Patented May 13, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT oFEicE WORM SIMULATING TOY Clifford F. Dawson, Wallingford, Vt.

Application .Tune` 16, 1950, Serial No. 168,538

(Cl. tlli-4M) 2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a mechanical toy, and more particularly to such a toy which is adapted to crawl across the surface and simulate the motions of a worm or the like.

An object of this invention is to provide a mechanical toy which is particularly adapted to crawl over a surface with its central section alternately rising into a humped position and dropping into a straight position intermediate the head and tail sections of the toy.

Another object of this invention is to provide a mechanical toy in which the head and tail sections alternately approach and recede from each other.

A further object of this invention is to provide a mechanical toy in which the head section is movable forwardly to elect the receding movement with respect to the tail section, and the central section is moved into a humped position to effect the approaching movement of the head and tail sections with respect to each other.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a worm-simulating mechanical toy which is simple in construction and relatively cheap to manufacture.

The above and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailedv description of the invention, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1l is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and in section, of the worm-simulating toy of the present invention, shown in its humped position;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevational view of the head section of the worm-simulating toy of the present invention, showing the operating mechanisms for eiecting a movement of the toy; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referringnow more particularly to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals have been used throughout the several views to designate like parts, there is shown the worm-simulating toy of the present invention, generally designated by the numeral IIJ, which comprises a hollow body II including a head section I2, a tail section I3 disposed in end-to-end spaced relation with respect to the head section I2, and a central connecting section I4 fabricated of any suitable flexible material disposed intermediate the head and tail sections and secured therebetween.

Disposed transversely of the head section I2 is a drive shaft I5 which has one end journaled in one side Wall of the head section, as indicated by the reference numeral I6, Figure 3, and has its other end operatively connected to the drive element of a spring motor I'I which is disposed interiorly of the head section I2 and supported on a side wall thereof. The spring motor Il is wound by means of a key I8 Which is disposed exteriorly of the head section I2 contiguous to the wall supporting the spring motor and is operatively connected to the spring motor by means of a connecting shaft I9.

The bottom wall of the head section I2 is provided with two spaced apart, transversely extending slots, generally designated by the reference numerals 2li, 2|. Disposed transversely of the head section I2 and overlying the slot 20 is a iront axle 22 which has its ends rotatably journaled in the opposed side walls of the head section, as clearly indicated by the reference numerals 23, 24, Figure 3. Carried by the front` axle 22 in spaced opposed relation with respect to each other are the front wheels 25, 26 which have their peripheries extending through the slot 20 for engagement with a ground surface.

overlying the slot 2| is a transversely disposed rear axle 2l, the axle being rotatably jo'urnaled in the side walls of the head section I2 and carrying the rear wheels, generally designated by the reference numeral 28. Accordingly. the head section I2 is mobile and can traverse a ground surface.

Disposed longitudinally of the head section I2 above the drive shaft l5 isa rod 29 which is mounted intermediate its ends for reciprocatory movement longitudinally of the head section I2 by means of the spaced apart gouides 30, 3 I. One end of the rod 29 extends into the flexible central section I4 and is movable toward and away from the latter upon reciprocation of the rod 29. Crcumposed about the other end of the rod 29 is a spring 32 which normally urges the rod 29 into a position wherein the rod 29 is `biased' away from the flexible central section I4.

Disposed within the flexible section I 4 is a plate 33 which is carried by the head section i2. Disposed longitudinally by the flexible section I is an L-shaped lever, generally designated by the reference numeral 34, which is supported intermediate its long leg 35 and its short leg 36 on the plate 33 for rocking movement about a transverse axis provided by the pivot pin 31 from a horizontal position to a vertical position. As clearly shown in Figure 2, the adjacent end of the rod 29 .bears against the short leg 36 of the lever 34 and urges the lever to the dotted line position shown in Figure 2 upon movement of the rod 29 toward the flexible section IlI. When the lever 34 assumes the vertical position, as clearly shown in Figure 1, the flexible central section I4 will be urged into its humped position. It is to be noted that the lever 34 is counterbalanced so that it will normally assume the horizontal position when the rod 29 is brought out of engagement with the short leg 36 thereof.

Disposed within the tail section I3 is a Weight, generally designated by the reference numeral 3B, the weight providing the desired drag to the tail section and cooperating with the central and head sections to effect the desired movement of the toy.

Carried by the drive shaft I5 is a coupling meansfgenerally designated by the reference numeral il), which is alternately engageable with the rotary axis of the front wheels 25, 2li, and the rod 23 for periodically effecting the rotary movement of the former and the movement of the latter toward and away from the flexible central section Id. The coupling means 4l) embodies a sector gear lil arranged axially on the drive shaft i5 and secured thereto. periphery of the sector gear 4I is provided with gear teeth #l2 for engagement with a pinion gear i3 carried by the front axle 22. Accordingly, during a portion of the rotary cycle of the sector gear l I, the teeth 42 will mesh with the teeth ofthe pinion 43 to thereby effect the movement of the front wheels 25, 26,'and to cause the head section to move forwardly along the supporting surface. The coupling means 40 further embodies an eccentric pin 61% disposed transversely of ,the sector gear lll and secured thereto. The pin M is selectively engageable with a xed lug i5 depending from the rod 29. The spacing of the pin 44 is selected with respect to the gear teeth 42, so that the pin 44 and lug i5 are engageable with each other during the portion of the rotary cycle of the sector gear in which the teeth i2 are not in meshing engagement with the pinion 43. As clearly shown in Figure 2, counterclockwise movement of the sector gear 4I during the period in which the pin 44 bears against the lug will urge the rod 29 toward the flexible central section I4 into engagement with the lever 34 to thereby cause the flexible section I to assume its humped position. Accordingly, the toy will crawl over the supporting surface with its Ycentral section alternately rising into a bumped position and dropping into a straight position intermediate the head and tail sections.

1n actual use, the spring motor I'I is manually Wound by means of the key I8 and the toy III is supported on a surface to be traversed. Upon release, the control wheel 4I will alternately actuate the lever 34 and the front wheels 25, 26 to thereby cause the toy to crawl across the surface and to simulate the motions ofa worm.

Although only one embodiment of the mechanical worm-simulating toy of the present invention has been described, numerous modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a toy, an elongated hollow body including a head section, a tail section spaced axially from said head section, and a center section positioned A portion of the outer between and connected at its ends to the adjacent ends of the h'ead and tail sections, said center section being flexible relative to said head and tail sections, an endwise slidable rod mounted longitudinallyv in said head section, spring means normally biasing said rod forwardly in said head section to an inoperative position, a lever pivotally mounted on the rear of said head section having a first arm extending in said center section, said first arm being weighted to normally occupy a reclining position extending longitudinally of the head section, said lever having a second arm projecting laterally with respect to said first arm and normally occupying a transverse position relative to said head section and in the region of the rearward end of said endwise slidable rod,

and motor means in said head section including a rotary member having a portion periodically engaged with a portion on said rod for pushing said rod rearwardly against the resistance of said spring means so as to engage said rod against said second lever arm and swing said rst lever arm to a position transverse to said head section and thereby flex saidY center section out of alignment with said head and tail sections.

2. In a toy, an elongated hollow body including a head section, a tail section spaced axially from said head section, and a center section positioned between and connected at its ends to the adjacent ends of the head and tail sections, said center section being flexible relative to said head and tail sections, an endwise slidable rod mounted longitudinally in said head section, spring means normally biasing said rod forwardly in said head section to an inoperative position, a lever pivotally mounted on the rear of said head section having a iirst arm extending in said center section, said first arm being weighted to normally occupy a reclining position extending longitudinally of the head section, said lever having a second arm projecting laterally with respect to said first arm and normally occupying a transverse position relative to said head section and in the region of the rearward end of said endwise slidable rod, and motor means in said head section including a rotary member having a portion periodically engaged with a portion on said rod for pushing said rod rearwardly against the resistance of said spring means so as to engage said rod against said second lever arm and -swing said first lever arm to a position transverse to said head section and thereby ilex said center section out of alignment with said hea`d and tail sections, said head section having ground engaging wheel means thereon, and means operatively connecting said rotary member to said wheel means whereby said wheel means is operatedonly While said endwise slidable rod is idle in inoperative position.V

' yCLIFFORD F. DAWSON.

REFERENCES CITED y' The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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