Actuation for spring mounted hobby horse

• US 4,566,688 A
• Filed: 03/21/1984
• Issued: 01/28/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1984
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas A. Monica
• Original Assignee: Thomas A. Monica
• Inventors: Monica, Thomas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafer, Robert A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kramer, Arnold W.
• Application Number:
  US06/591,955
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 272/52, 272/52.5, 272/53.1, 272/53.2, 272/86, 5/109, 5/104, 5/108, 297/260, 297/181, 128/33, 446/280, 446/283, 446/285
• US Class Current: 472/97
• CPC Class Codes: A63G 13/06 Rocking-horses

Abstract

In a hobby horse of the type where the body thereof is supported from four upright posts by retractile suspension springs, the present invention incorporates a drive apparatus for imparting a rocking motion to the hobby horse. The invention achieves differing oscillatory rates of horse movement according to the size and weight of the child. Timer and speed controls may be provided.

Claims

1. Apparatus for rocking a children'"'"'s riding toy suspended from a frame having a plurality of generally upright members by a plurality of retractile springs each of which is attached at one end to said toy and at the other end to a frame member;

comprising;

(a) at least one reciprocating arm means for imparting rocking motion perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of at least one of the retractile springs,

(b) clamp means for securing said reciprocating arm to at least one of the retractile springs along the longitudinal axis thereof, and

(c) drive means for reciprocating said reciprocating arm, wherein the reciprocating arm travel is within a range of from one-fourth inch to about three inches.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1, further including control panel means for regulating the application of power to said drive means and key lock switch means for disabling said drive means.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2, further including speed regulating means for selectively adjusting the speed of said rocking motion.

4. Apparatus as in claim 2, further including means to limit the maximum and minimum speed of said rocking motion within at least one of a plurality of speed ranges.

5. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the reciprocating speed is within a range of 60 to 200 thrusts per minute.

6. Apparatus as claim 5, wherein the reciprocating speed is preferably within a range of from 120 to 130 thrusts per minute.

7. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the clamp means adjustably secures the reciprocating arm to the retractile spring at a selected one of a plurality of points along its length between one-fourth way from the toy to three-fourths way toward the frame upright member.

8. Apparatus as in claim 7, wherein the clamp means is secured to the retractile spring at a point along the length therof substantially half-way between the toy and the frame upright member.

9. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said drive means includes an electric gear reduction motor.

10. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said drive means comprises a pulsating fluid pressure and said reciprocating arm is a fluid cylinder shaft.

11. Apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said fluid is a gas.

12. Apparatus as in claim 10, wherein said fluid is a liquid.

13. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said reciprocating arm is substantially vertically disposed.

14. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said reciprocating arm is substantially horizontally disposed.

15. Apparatus as in claim 1, characterized in that smaller, shorter children receive a mild ride and larger, taller children receive a more vigorous ride for a given combination of reciprocating arm travel, reciprocating speed, spring size and rate, and reciprocating arm point of attachment along the length of the spring.

16. Apparatus as in claim 1, which incorporates at least one `deadman switch` for safety.

17. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the reciprocating arm travel is about one and one-fourth inches.

18. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the reciprocating arm travel is about one and one-fourth inches and the reciprocating speed is within a range of from about 120 to about 130 thrusts per minute.