US2667720A - Bicycle attached toy machine gun - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 2, 1954 E. s. coNNELL, JR 2,667,720

BICYCLE ATTACHED Toy MACHINE GUN Filed sept. 1a, 1951 INVENTOR.

EVAN S. CoNNE| l ,JR. BY

AT TQRNEYS Patented Feb. 2, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT `OFFICE BICYCLE ATT-AUHED TOY MACHINE GUN Evan S. Connell, Jr., Santa Cruz, Calif.

Application September 18, "1951, vSerial No. l247,116

6 Claims.

1 The present invention relates to a toy machine gun attachment for a bicycle, or the like. It

lconsists or the combinations, constructions, and

arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed.

Among the various objects of this invention, I propose to provide a toy machine gun, which is adapted to be mounted on a bicycle, or the like, at substantially handle-bar level thereon, thus allowing the gun to be actuated and directed conveniently by the cyclist. Simulated ring is obtained by moving a spring-like finger into engagement with the spokes of a bicycle wheel during rotation of the latter, producing noises resembling the iiring of a machine gun. The device is intended for amusement purposes, the rate and volume of simulated iiring being controlled by the cyclist. The device will be particularly appealing to youngsters.

Another and important object of the invention is to produce an attachment of the character described, which may be readily secured to a bicycle, or the like, without requiring any alterations in the latter.

Moreover, propose to provide a toy kmachine gun attachment that is simple in construction, durable and efficient for the purpose intended, and easily adjusted to dierent sizes of bicycles.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the Ispecication continues. The novel `features will be pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

Drawing For a better understanding of the invention, reference should be had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this application, in which:

Figure l is an elevational View of the forward portion of a conventional bicycle, disclosing my toy machine gun mounted thereon;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional View taken along the piane II-II of Figure 1, illustrating` the spokaengaging linger and the mounting band thereof; and

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional View of the universal connection disposed between the gun and the steering bracket of the bicycle, this View being taken along the line lll-II of Figure l.

While l have shown only the preferred form of my invention, it should be understood that various chang-es, or niodications, may be made within the scope of the annexed claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

. customary' manner.

As shown in Figure 1, a steering bracket B is secured to the upper end of the -front fork by a vbolt 15. This same bracket is fashioned with a clamp i 6 into which handle-bars Il are inserted. It is well known that the handle-.bars

are employed for steering the bicycle, and that spokes i8 -of the wheel must pass in consecutive order between the legs lia as the wheel i2 is turned.

For the purpose of mounting a toy machine gun 1C on 4the bicycle at substantially handle-bar level, and at the same time permit the gun to be .pointed by the lcyclist in desired directions, I make use of a universal connection indicated at D in Figures 1 and 3.

:In its `structural features, the rconnection D has been shown as including an L-shaped meinber i9 having its horizontal leg 19a secured to Ithe steering bracket B by the bolt l5 previously Al'novernent therebetween. In `order to frictionally retain the gun in adjusted position, I have provided a spring-pressed shoe 24 on the interior of the tube 22, which bears against the ball 2| in the manner of a brake.

It is desirable to mount the gun C for vun.'- versal movement so that `the cyclist can point it in the proper direction, thus contributing to the appeal of the vdevice to youngsters. However, various 'types of universal connections may `be resortedto for this purpose, and I do not wish 'to be 'limited to `the Specific details lof the connection D described above.

The :toy lgun G is V'fashioned vrwith a pistol -grip 25, which is designed for grasping by the cyclist. Inasmuch as this grip is disposed on about the level as the grips ila of the handle-bars, it will be very convenient for the cyclist to utilize one hand for directing the muzzle 26 in the desired direction at a simulated target. The particular design of the gun may be changed to suit the fancy of the manufacturer.

For simulating machine gun lire, and thereby contributing to the appeal of the device to youngsters, I have provided a resilient strip-like spokeengaging finger E, which is actuated by a cable F and a trigger 2?, the latter being pivotally secured at 28 to the body of the gun. This finger may be fashioned from a leaf-spring, with the set thereof designed to normally position the free tip 29 of the spring out of engagement with the path 30 dened by the rotating wheel spokes I8 (See Figure 2).

As illustrated in the drawings, a band 3i is adjustably clamped to one oi the legs Ila of the steering fork H by a bolt 32. In Figure 2, I show the finger E as having its end 33 anchored to this band. Quite obviously, the band 3l may be adjusted vertically along the length of the fork leg so that the cable F will be taut when the linger occupies its normal full-line position in Figure 2, that is, the finger tip 23 is out of contact with the rotating wheel spokes.

The nnger E is fashioned with a loop Sli in the intermediate portion thereof, and-the cable F extends across this loop. This cable is guided through an eyelet 35, and has its lower end fastened by a ring 36 provided'on the flexible portion 3l' of the spring finger. Figure 2, the finger portion 3l extends at an angle relative to the plane of the wheel, and will yield as each spoke strikes the tip 29 so as to permit passage of the spoke.

It will be apparent that when the reach 38 of the cable F is pulled upwardly by retractng the trigger 2l, the portion 3l of the spring finger will be flexed into the dotdash line position shown in Figure 2, thus constricting the loop 313.

At this time the end 2S of the iinger will strike successive spokes of the wheel during rotation of the latter, producing a noise simulating the firing or the gun. As soon as pressure is relaxed on the trigger, a suitable spring 33 will return the trigger to its normal position, as shown in Figure 1, and the finger tip 29 will move out of engagement with the spokes. Thus the noise simulating the machine gun firing will cease.

In order to guide the cable F within the gun, I have provided pulleys 49 and l over which it is trained. This will preclude the cable from wearing and will lead it to the trigger from the proper side of the latter so that retraction of the trigger will operate to pull the reach 38 upwardly. This reach is disposed adjacent to the universal connection D in order that mere swinging of the gun will not operate to ilex the finger E into engagement with the spokes of the wheel.

Summary of operation Assuming that the toy machine gun C is supported by the universal connection D on the steering bracket B, as illustrated in Figure 1, the band Si should be adjusted along the length of the fork leg i ia until the cable F is taut and the free end 29 of the resilient nger E is out of contact with the wheel spokes i3. At this time, the bolt 32 should be tightened so as to hold the band 3l in place. 4

When the cyclist desires to re the gun, the

As illustrated in grip 25 and the trigger 21 may be grasped readily in one hand, leaving the other hand of the cyclist free to steer the bicycle by means of the handle-bars I1. The gun may be pointed in the .desired direction. Upon retractng the trigger,

the cable reach 38 will be drawn upwardly, resulting in moving the finger tip 28 into the path 30 of the rotating spokes I8. As each spoke strikes the resilient finger E, a noise will be produced that will simulate the firing of the gun.

As soon as pressure is relaxed on the trigger, the resilient linger E will return to its full line position shown in Figure 1, moving the tip 29 thereof out of engagement with the spokes of the rotating wheel and stop-ping the "ring of the top machine gun.

I claim:

1. In an attachment of the character described: a toy machine gun, including a trigger; means mounting this gun on a bicycle, or the like, at substantially handle-bar level thereon in a position for grasping and direct aiming of the gun by a cyclist, while riding the bicycle; a resilientfnger having means connected thereto for supporting the finger on a part of the bicycle adjacent to a wheel thereof; the finger having a free tip normally disposed out of engagement with spokes of the wheel; this inger being adapted to be flexed into a position in which the spokes will strike the tip during rotation of the wheel to produce a noise simulating firing of the gun; and means operated by the trigger under direct control of the cyclist for flexing the finger into the path of the wheel spokes, when desired by the cyclist, to thereby selectively lire the gun at will.

2. The combination as dened in claim l, in which the mounting means for the gun includes a universal connection arranged so that the gun may be elevated, depressed and traversed in desired directions by the cyclist.

3. In an attachment of the character described: a toy machine gun, including a trigger; means mounting this gun on a steering bracket of a bicycle, or the like, in a position for grasping and direct aiming of the gun by a cyclist, while riding the bicycle; a resilient finger having means Y connected thereto for supporting the finger on a part of the bicycle; the finger having a free tip normally disposed out of engagement with spokes of a wheel of the bicycle; this nger being adapted to be flexed into a position in which the spokes will strike the tip during rotation of the wheel to produce a noise simulating firing of the gun; and means operated by the trigger under direct control of the cyclist and connected to the nger for flexing the latter into the path of the wheel spokes, when desired by the cyclist, to thereby selectively fire the gun at will.

4. In an attachment of the character described: a toy machine gun, including a trigger; means mounting this gun on a steering bracket of a bicycle, or the like, in a position for grasping and direct aiming of the gun by a cyclist; a band adapted to be clamped on a fork of the bicycle; a resilient finger carried by the band; the finger having a free tip normally disposed out of engagement with spokes of a wheel journalled in the fork; this finger being adapted to be flexed into a position in which the spokes will strike the tip during rotation of the Wheel to produce a noise simulating ring of the gun; and a cable having its opposite ends connected to the trigger and finger, respectively, and being movable by the trigger under direct control of the cyclist for flexing the finger into the path of the Wheel spokes, when desired by the cyclist, to thereby selectively re the gun at Will; the band being adjustable along the length of the fork to tighten the cable taut.

5. The combination as defined in claim 4, in which mounting means for the gun includes a universal connection arranged so that the gun may be elevated, depressed and traversed in desired directions by the cyclist; the cable having a reach disposed adjacent to this universal connection so that swinging of the gun will not operate to flex the nger into engagement with the spokes of the wheel.

6. In a toy machine gun attachment for a bicycle, or the like: a resilient strip-like finger dening a loop in an intermediate portion thereof the finger further dening end sections disposed on opposite sides of the loop and diverging relative to one another; means for securing one end section of the nger to a leg of a bicycle fork, with the other end section being free and directed toward spokes of a wheel journalled in the fork at an angle relative to the general plane of the Wheel; the loop having a set therein so that the free end section of the nger normally will be out of engagement With the spokes during rotation of the wheel; a cable extending across the loop; means anchoring one end of this cable to one end section of the finger; and an eyelet mounted in the other end section of the finger; the cable being guided through this eyelet for constricting the loop and for moving the free end section of the finger into the path of the wheel spokes upon pulling the other end of the cable.

EVAN S. COINNELL, JR.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 424,835 Swan Apr. 1, 1890 556,459 Craig Mar. 17, 1895 595,334 Paehtz Dec. 14, 1897 665,452 Moffat Jan. 8, 1901 1,827,642 Daimaru Oct. 13, 1931 2,248,596 Wilsey July 8, 1941 2,523,911 McKay Sept. 26, 1950 2,624,156 Meyer, Jr Jan. 6, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 29,549 Great Britain 1896

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