Toy Doll Stroller and Ferris Wheel

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to doll accessories and more particularly to toy strollers.

2. Background Art

Toy strollers have long been popular doll accessories. Many prior art toy strollers seek to emulate the real-life counterparts. There have also been prior art strollers which include a whimsical feature to add to the entertainment and enjoyment of the toy such as Coleco Merry-Go-Round stroller. That toy has two ground wheels on a substantially horizontal axis with a right angle transmission to drive a vertically extending shaft on which two doll seats are carried for rotation in a substantially horizontal plane. The dolls are twirled around in a carousel fashion as the stroller is pushed. However, there remains a need for additional toy strollers that have a movable feature driven by trouble-free mechanisms.

The present invention is concerned with providing a multi-featured toy stroller that includes a ferris wheel powered by a direct drive mechanism from the ground wheels when the stroller is pushed along a surface. The ferris wheel feature can also be played with when the stroller is stationary. These and other objects and advantages of the invention are achieved by providing a frame assembly with ground engaging drive wheels on coaxial stub shafts and having one or both of those wheels directly drive a ferris wheel journaled on the frame assembly on an axis parallel to those of the stub shafts. In addition, a stand is pivotally connected to the frame to permit the drive wheels to be moved out of engagement with the ground surface so that at least one ground wheel may be turned by a hand crank to rotate the ferris wheel while the stroller is stationary.

For a better understanding of the present invention reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view showing the left rear wheel with the crank and stand in one position;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view showing the left rear wheel with the crank and stand in a second position;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line 6--6 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view showing the portions of the end of the U-shaped handle and apex of the A-shaped frame that fit together.

Referring now to the drawings in which like parts are designated by like reference characters throughout the several views, there is shown in FIG. 1 a toy doll stroller and ferris wheel combination 10. Supporting the combination is a pair of basically A-shaped members 14 which are identical for convenient manufacturing and assembly.

Each of the frame members 14 has a pair of angled legs 16a and 16b which intersect at an apex boss 18. A central bore 20 extends through the apex boss which has a C-shaped cavity 22 on its back face and a blind slot 24 on the top of the boss 18 open toward the back side of the frame member 14 and communicating with the cavity 22. At the diverging bottom ends of each of the legs 16a and 16b are formed respective bottom bosses 26a and 26b. Bores 28a and 28b extend through the bosses 26a and 26b respectively and each of the bosses has a pair of detents or depressions 30 and 32 formed on the front face and extending radially from the bore 28 to the periphery of the boss. As is best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the detents are spaced approximately 45 degrees apart. A curved cross-piece 34 joins the angled legs 16 near their diverging ends. The piece 34 also has a pair of bosses 36a and 36b adjacent the intersection with the angled legs 16a and 16b. Each of the bosses 36a and 36b has a respective bore 38a and 38b extending through the boss. Scroll work 40 provides additional strength for the A-frame member in addition to decorating it

The tops of the two A-frame members are joined together by a one-piece essentially U-shaped handle 42. Bight 44 of the handle forms the hand grip portion and projects out beyond the diverging back bottom ends of the angled legs 16b. The substantially parallel uprights 46 of the handle 42 lie in substantially the same planes as the A-frame members 14. Just before the inverted Y-shaped ends 48 of each of the uprights 46 is a downward, approximately 120-degree, bend 50. A rim 52 extends around the upright 46 between the bend 50 and the end 48. Upright 46 will fit into the blind slot 24 with the inverted Y ends 48 received in the C-shaped cavity 22. The rim 52 supports the handle 42 on the outside surface of the apex bosses 18. Alternatively, a U-shaped handle may have each of its uprights connected by a bracket across a respective rearwardly angled leg 16b of the A-frame at a convenient point between the apex boss 18 and boss 36b. In such an alternative assembly, the end of the upright could be attached to the center of the scroll work 40 for additional support.

A pair of front wheels 56 are press fitted on an axle 58 that is journaled for rotation in the bottom bores 28a of the forward angled legs 16a. (It will be appreciated that it could instead be said that the axle 58 is journaled through the bore 28a of one frame member 14 and 28b of the opposite side frame member which is the identical same piece that has been flipped around.) Substantially coaxial rear stepped hub and stub shafts 60 are journaled for rotation in the bores 38b substantially parallel to front axle 58. Integrally formed with the hub and stub shafts 60 are rear ground wheels 62 and slightly smaller diameter, concentric, inboard facing drive cylinders 64 with a rubber, or other friction increasing material, covering 66 that does not engage the ground. A cap (not shown) over the free outboard end of the stub shaft 60 secures it.

Each of a pair of parallel large diameter side wheels 68 has an integrally formed stepped bore 70, spur 72, and gudgeon 74. Side wheels 68 are spaced from each other by a hollow axle 76 the ends of which are secured into the bores 70. Each of the gudgeons 74 are inserted in a respective bore 20 in the apex boss 18 of a frame member 14 and secured by a screw 78 or a through-extending metal shaft to rotatably support the side wheels 68 on an axis substantially parallel to that of the stub shafts 60. As is best shown in FIG. 3 the side wheels 68 are spaced from the frame 14 so that the side wheels 68 lie in substantially the same plane as the drive cylinders 64. The sum of the radii of the side wheels 68 and the drive cylinder 64 is substantially equal to the distance from the central bore 20 to the bottom bore 28b along the angled leg 16b. Therefore, the periphery of each side wheel 68 is in contact with the rubber coated surface 66 on the respective drive cylinder 64 effecting a frictional drive transmission. Accordingly, when the stroller is pushed along the ground, the rotation of the rear ground engaging wheels 62 will rotate the concentric drive cylinder 64 and in turn rotatingly drive the side wheels 68. The downward force normally exerted on the bight portion 44 of the handle will help force the side wheels 68 into frictional engagement with the rubber covered surface 66. It will be appreciated to those skilled in the art that other transmission means such as gear teeth on a side wheel 68 meshing with gear teeth on a respective drive cylinder 64 could be employed without departing from the object of this invention to provide a relatively uncomplicated trouble-free drive mechanism for the ferris wheel.

Three one-piece molded doll seats 80 are pivotally mounted at approximately equally spaced intervals between the side wheels 68 adjacent the periphery of the side wheels and parallel to the axis through the axle 76 and the gudgeons 74. Each of the seats 80 carries a pair of trunnions 82 extending outwardly near the top of the seat back. The trunnions 82 are received in sleeves 84 molded in the side wheels 68 or in holes in the side wheels. As the side wheels 68 rotate, the seats will go around in a circle while freely pivoting about the trunnions 82 to maintain the seats in a generally upright position throughout rotation. The length of each seat 80 is limited by the distance from the trunnions 82 to the periphery of the axle 76 and also by the distance from the trunnions to the ground. By spacing the periphery of the side wheels 68 at least the length of the radius of the wheels 62 from the ground, a large enough seat 80 may be used to accommodate a convenient size doll without hitting the ground. Since the rear drive wheels 62 are mounted on the stub shafts 60, the seat may swing between the rear wheels as the side wheels 68 rotate. While virtually any number of seats 80 could be employed, three has been found to be a convenient number which provides a fairly frequent rotation of the child's dolls 86 coming up over the ferris wheel to face the child pushing the stroller and still provide sufficient intervals between the seats so as not to require a great number of dolls to enjoy playing with the stroller.

A bracket 90 is formed of a resilient material in a general U-shape. The ends 92 of the upright legs 94 of the bracket are bent back in toward the center of the "U". Accordingly, when the ends are spread apart, they may be fitted into the rear bottom bores 28b. The resiliency of the bracket 90 will retain the uprights 94 against the outside front surface of the respective rear bottom boss 26b to connect the legs 16b while permitting pivotal movement of the bracket 90. Since only stub shafts 60 are used for the rear wheels 62 instead of a through-extending axle like front axle 58, a tie bolt (not shown) between the bottom bosses 26b may be used if the bracket 90 is not used.

Detents 30 and 32 limit the positioning of the pivotally mounted bracket 90 since the resiliency will force the uprights 94 into the detents. Accordingly, when the uprights 94 are in the detents 32, as shown in FIG. 4, the bracket is up and out of the way. However, when the uprights 94 are moved out of the detents 32 to the substantially vertical detents 30, as shown in FIG. 5, the bight portion 96 of the U-shaped bracket will engage the ground and raise the rear wheels 62 out of engagement with ground. With the bracket 90 positioned as in FIG. 5 functioning as a stand, a rear wheel may be rotated by means of the hand crank 98 that is secured to the stub shaft 60 of one of the rear wheels 62 for rotation with the shaft and in turn drive the side wheels 68 providing an alternative play feature with the ferris wheel while the stroller is stationary.

Chimes with a freely movable striker (not shown) may be included within the hollow axle 76 to provide musical notes as the ferris wheel is rotated.

While there has been shown and described a particular embodiment of the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention and it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications.