US1521487A - Amusement device - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 30, 1924.

G. E. TURNER AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Jung 9, 1923 A WITNESSES J N al A TTORNEYS Patented Dec. 30, 1924.

GEORGE EDWARD TURNER, OF HOT SPRINGS, SOUTH DAKOTA.

AM'U'SEMENT DEVICE.

Application led .Tune 9, 1923. Serial No. 644,448.

To all whom t may concern' Be it known that I, GEORGE E. TURNER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of I-Iot Springs, in the county of Fall River and State of South Dakota, have invented a new and Improved Amusement Device, of which the following is a description.

My invention relates to an amusemei'it device employing an inclined track and a foot rest adapted to travel along said track.

The general object of my invention is to provide an amusement device whereby the user may stand on the foot rest and permit the foot rest to travel down the inclined track, more specific objects being to provide a novel form of traveller for the foot rest as wellas a. novel bearing assemblage for the traveller elementI and spring means to return the foot rest after a downward movement by the user.

A still further object of the invention is to provide brake means to regulate the flescent of the foot rest as well as to provide an embodiment of the invention reflecting practical considerations with respect to strength, and simplicity of adjustment and control..

The nature of the invention and its distinguishing features and characteristics will clearly appear as the description proceeds.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, it being understood that the drawings are merely illustrative of one example of the invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an amusement device embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail in longitudinal vertical section to illustrate certain features of the traveling foot rest;

Figure 4 is a cross section on the line 4 4, Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the end guards on the foot rest traveler.

In carrying out my invention in accordance with the illustrated example an elongated base is provided advantageously shod with a rubber covering 11. An inclined track 12 generally of flattened tube form to present an oval cross section is employed and pivotally connected at its front end as at 13 to the front end of the base 10. At the rear end of the base 10 is an upward extension 14 slightly inclined forwardly and formed at its front edge with a vertical series of notches 15 any :me of which may receive a latch 1G on track 12 for varying the incline of said track.

A foot rest 17 is provided to have longitudinal movement on bthe inclined track 12, said foot rest comprising a foot plate 17 on the upper end of the standard .18, the lower end of which is directed laterally inward and is rigid with a traveller 2O disposed within the oval track 12. The traveller 20 advantageously is of oval shape in practice and at the periphery thereof has a continuous series of bearing balls 22, the lower run of which travels on the bottom of the track 12 at the interior, the balls thus 5 generally having the arrangement of a caterpillar. 'Ihe track 12 presents a longitudinal side slot 23 affording clearance for the longitudinal movement of the laterally projecting portion 19 of the post or standard 18. On the traveller 20 at each end is a guard 211 advantageously in the form of a substantially fiat vertical plate. Said guard 24 includes a head member 25 which is of arcuate form to follow generally the curvature of the adjacent end of the traveller 2O and is semi-circular in cross section to form with the traveller 2O a ball race at each end of the traveller. The shank 26 of each guard has a bolt hole 27 to receive :t bolt 28 for securing the guard to the traveller. A retractile coil spring 29 is secured at one end to the adjacent guard 24 or any other fixed part appurtenant to the traveller 20, the opposite end of said spring being secured to the upper end of the track 12.

With the described construction the use r of my amusement device stands on the foot plate 17 and his weight causes the traveller 20 to travel down the inclined track 12 toward the lower end thereof, the movement serving to distend the spring 29. The foot is now removed from the foot plate 17, and the foot rest being thus relieved of the weight of the user is returned on the track 12 to the upper end of the latter by the reaction of the spring 29. The user again stands on the plate 17 and repeats the forward movements.

In order to control the descent of the foot rest on the track 12 I provide a track brake 30 in the form of a plate disposed above the track and adjustable vertically on the post 1S, a set screw 31 serving to fasten the track brake in adjusted position. Obviously, the

' base havino' an uv turned member at one end Y D vfrom the spirit of the invention as vdefined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: l. An amusement deviceV of the class described comprising an inclined track, means to vary the inclination of the track, and a foot rest held to said tiack to travel thereon; together With a brake carried by -said Vfoot rest and adjust-ableV relatively to Vthe track to vary the Vbraking action. on the latter. Y Y

2. In a device of the class described, a

formed With notches, an inclined track pivoted to said base at the opposite end, and a latch on said track adapted to engage in one of said notches. i

3. In a device of the. class described, a

base having Van upturned member Vat oneV end. formed With notches, an inclined track pivoted to said base at the opposite end, and a latch on said track adapted to engage in oneof said notches; togetherV with afoot rest adapted to travel on said track.V

4. A device ofthe class described compris-V ing a tubular track approximately oval .in cross section andr slotted longitudinally at a side thereof, an oval traveller, means Within said track, andan annular seriesofrolling, bearings disposed about said traveller 'and' adapted to run on saidtrack.

5. A device of the class described comprising a tubular track yapprokimately oval in cross section and slottedplongitudinally at a side thereof, an oval traveller, means Within said track, and an annularseries ofy rolling bearings disposed about said traveller and adapted torun on said track; vtogether With guards on the. traveller at thev endsY thereof outside of said Ybearingsl and curved to constitute With the ends of the traveller races for the bearings.

i cEoRGE EDWARD TURNER'.

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