US2775845A - Toy instrument panel for cycle handle bars - Google Patents

Description

L. COATES 2,775,845

TOY INSTRUMENT PANEL FOR CYCLE HANDLE BARS Jan. 1, 1957 Filed April 21. 1954 ms ATTORNEYS O W K.

United States Patent TOY INSTRUMENT PANEL FOR CYCLE HANDLE BARS Leroy Coates, Covington, Ky. Application April 21, 1954, Serial No. 424,551 1 Claim. (Cl. 461) This invention relates to a toy instrument panel for cycle handle bars, and it particularly pertains to one which is simple in construction and especially adapted for young children both as an educational and amusement tOY.

Toys of this general type have been made, but, heretofore, they have been of complicated construction, cumbersome and have not been suitable for use with a conventional toy vehicle such as a cycle.

Accordingly, one of the principal objects of the inven tion is a toy instrument panel for cycle bars which is simple in construction, simple in operation and composed of a minimum number of parts.

Another object of the invention is a toy instrument panel for cycle bars which is readily detachably mounted upon the cycle bars.

Further objects, and objects relating to details of construction and assembly, will readily appear from the detailed description to follow. In one instance, I have accomplished the objects of my invention by the device and means set forth in the following specification. My invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the appended claim. A structure constituting a preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a device embodying my invention and showing a portion of the cycle.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the device.

Fig. 3 is a view in end elevation, from the right end of the device.

Generally described the device comprises a plate of arcuate conformation on its upper edge and provided with cycle handle bar clamps on its bottom edge. The front side of the plate is provided with indicia simulating a conventional motor vehicle instrument panel. There is a handle pivoted to the back of the plate with one end projecting for manually moving it and an indicator fixed thereto. Stop means also are provided on the plate, cooperating with the indicator, for holding the handle and indicator in any of several selected adjusted positions.

Referring specifically to the drawings in which like numerals designate like parts, numeral 2 refers generally to a plate preferably made of sheet metal or molded resin plastic. The top edge 3 of the plate is of arcuate configuration with a plurality of embossments 4 stamped therefrom to project from the rear side. These embossments are arranged in pairs spaced apart to be radially aligned with the letters R, N and F on the front side of the plate, these letters respectively referring to reverse, neutral and forward.

Pivoted to the rear of the plate by pivot bolt 5 and clamp nut 6 is a lever 7 terminating in handle 8 that projects beyond the top arcuate edge of the plate, the handle being a conventional rubber thimble slipped over the end of the lever. The opposite end of the lever is bent at an angle to provide an arm 9 terminating in an indicator 10 bent to overhang the front top margin of the plate to be selectively aligned with one of the letters R, N and F when the lever is manually moved in any selected position. The lever has sufiicient play for ice the arm 9 to ride over the embossments 4 and yet be held normally between any one of the pairs to register the indicator with the respective indicia letters.

The bottom end of the plate is provided with a pair of cycle bar clamps, each formed by a projecting strip 11 bent in the form of a semi-circle. The free end of the strip and the plate are perforated to receive clamp bolts 12. A pad 13, with its side edges 14 engaging the opposite side edge 5 of the strip 11, is mounted on the strip to be interposed between it and the cycle bars.

There is the graduated scale 10 to to simulate speedometer indicia, and, associated with this is an indicator 15 that is snugly mounted on the pivot bolt 5 for free relative movement. This indicator can be manually moved to any selected point or position. Other conventional parts of a motor vehicle instrument panel are simulated, such as the mileage meter 16, push buttons for the starter S, choke C and lights L, together with temperature, fuel, oil and ammeter dials. The indicia may be formed on the plate or may be printed on a strip, such as a decalcomania, applied to the plate.

From the above description, it will be readily apparent that the device can be readily mounted upon the cycle handle bars in a position in front of the driver so as to be easily seen. The hand lever is manually operated as is the indicator for the speedometer, and is retained in any adjusted position.

I am aware that there may be various changes in details of construction without departing from the spirit of my invention, and, therefore, I claim my invention broadly as indicated by the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent, is:

A simulated motor vehicle instrument panel for cycle bars comprising a plate having gear shift and speedometer indicia upon the front side, said plate having an arcuate top edge, a lever pivoted to the rear of the plate and extending beyond the arcuate top edge thereof to provide a manually shiftable handle, an indicator means for the gear shift indicia, another indicator for the speedometer indicia, the speedometer indicator being mounted on a common pivot with the lever and having free independent movement and the gear shift indicator being fixed to the lever and movable therewith, said gear shift indicator being visible at the front of said plate in cooperative relation to said gear shift indicia, and rearwardly projecting embossment means stamped from the plate for cooperating with the gear shift lever to hold it and the gear shift indicator in adjusted position, said lever having an offset portion at the free end thereof to clear the embossment means in its pivotal movement relatively to the plate and cycle bar clamp means on the plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,259,867 Humphreys Mar. 19, 1918 1,486,568 Debs Mar. 11, 1924 2,168,939 Kraeft Aug. 8, 1939 2,332,216 Gold Oct. 19, 1943 2,454,693 Foster Nov. 23, 1948 2,578,682 Fernstrom Dec. 18, 1951 2,581,976 Solomon Jan. 8, 1952 2,684,243 Alston July 20, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 419,305 Great Britain Nov. 9, 1934 501,460 Belgium Mar. 15, 1951 OTHER REFERENCES Playthings Magazine for March, 1948, page 267.

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