US2607590A - Rocking support - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 19, 1952 H. H; wHEAToN ROCKTNG SUPPORT 2 SHEETS- SHEET l Filed oet. 23,. 1949 INVENTOR. dfi, l BY J' 7u M HMHW@ AAug. 19, 1952 H. H. rwhiz-: ATQN ROCKING 'SUPPORT 2' Smm-SHEET 2 v Filed Oct. 28, 1949 IN V EN TOR.

i 2-2 0f Fig. 1;

Patented Aug. 19, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT rOFFICE Henry H. Wheaton, Verona,'N. J.

Application October 28, 1949, Serial No. 124,019

8 Claims.

l The invention relates t amusement andexercising devices of the seesaw, hobby horse, lor other rocking or oscillatory type.

This invention has for an object to provide an improved amusement or exercising devicewhich not only oscillates or pitches in the well known manner about a transverse pivotal axis or fulcrum, but also is capable of other motions and riding eifects that combine to increase the pleasure and physical benefits to be derived from its use by children.

Other objects are to provide in a seesaw device, such as is used by two children, means for producing certain specic motions and riding effects that simulate the action of a horse when moving with some characteristic gait, such as the trot or canter, and in another embodiment of the invention, to utilize the improved seesaw construction as the skeletal basis of a hobby horse to be ridden by one person.

Another object of the invention is to provide lthe legs of the supporting structure of the device, in either of the optional embodiments of said device, with novel resilient footing means .which are yieldable to vertical vibratory movements of the device; and a still further object is to provide the yieldable footing means in such form that they do not need to be flxedly attached to the floor or other supporting surface, but will serve by suction cup-like action to prevent substantial horizontal displacement of the device during operation thereof. f f

A still further object is the provision, for use with either embodiment of the invention, of novel stirrup means having length adjustment meansv incorporated therein. Y

` Illustrative embodiments of the invention vare shown in the accompanying drawings, in* which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a seesaw device of the two rider type constructed in accordance with the invention, showing in solid lines nthe seating member in a state of equilibrium, and in broken lines the disposition of movable parts during oscillation or pitching movement ,of the seating member;

Fig. 2 ris a transverse sectional view -of line Fig. 3 isa transverse sectional,view of the stirrup means taken on line 3 3 of 1= ig.l; y

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view. on an enlarged scale, of one of the footing means, showing one form thereof;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to that of Fig. 4, but showing another form of footing means;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the seesaw device of the one rider or 'hobby horse type; and Y Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical section, taken on line 'l--l in Fig. 6.

Referring ynow to the drawings, in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views, the embodiment o1 the invention as a seesaw device for use by two riders in the well known manner is illustrated in Figs..y 1 t0 3 inclusive. In this embodiment, the'v seatingrmember I0 is pivotally mounted in the usual manner on supporting structure II.

Obviously, supporting structure II may take any one of various forms, a simple form of which is shown by way of illustration in Figs. 1 and 2. In the form shown, supporting structure II includes a pair `of substantially identical side members I2 that. may conveniently be made 0f suitable material by well known manufacturing processes. Side members I2 are spaced apart and preferably inclined downwardly outward to alford adequate stability during the most violent riding motions. In this relative position, side members I2 aresecured together preferably by a plurality of suitably distributed cross members I3, at least two of which, below the topr of side members I2, are positioned at the same level to provide a horizontal bench I4 for a purpose which will presently appear. Y

rEach side member I2 of the supporting structure I I includes a pair of longitudinally diverging vlegs I5. Each leg is provided with footing means IB for direct iioor contact which will be described aligned notches I'I at the tops of side members I 2 of said supporting structure, and then resting in said notches I'lthe ends of a trunnion member I8 that is rigidly secured to seating member I0 at the center of gravity thereof by suitable means, such as socket member I9.

Itbeing customary for riders of a seesaw device to sit astride the opposite ends of its seating member facing each other, handle bars 20 have been provided on the seating member in Vsuitably disposed relation to the ends thereof, in orderthat they mayy be grasped by the respective riders for aid Vin maintaining their seats and as means by which assisting actuating impulses may lbe imparted manually to the seating A.respective Adequate respectively `to the. adj a'ce'nt end Ame [milch like horseback ri teeter-boards, as they are sometimes called. In ordinary seesaw devices, the seating member is free to oscillate without any restraint except that which may be imposed by the riders or by impact of either end of said seating member with the floor or ground. Therefore, in order to avoid severe shock at the limits of movement of the seating member, it is necessary for the riders to touch the floor or ground with their feet. In my improved seesaw device, tensioning means has been introduced to damp or shock-absorb the oscillating movement of the seating member I to the extent that the riders will be fully and safely supported throughout the complete cycleof oscillating movement. All motion is smooth and cushioned during reversal without any necessity for foot action by the riders. v

The tensioning means may take any one of several forms, but it is preferred to use the simple structural embodimentdisclosed in the drawings. As Shown 'particularly iii jl end 2, 'the tensioning ineens idr seatiiigineiiiber le comprises -a stiffr mainspring ,2l and comparatively weak coupling springsfz that extend `[bel-.we'e'n said Imainspiti-ngV and the reseotive 'end portions 'of seating einher` 'I' Vat sui't'ablevdistances'from the pivot-al axis oi the latter. Main spring 2|, iiitlie preferred form shown, le a long dat resilient bier er 'iee'i spring that extends long'itudiirellybeiiedtli and -sp'aeedbeldwtiie seating' mer-uber rae-nd ifs centrally sii'ppdfted by tenen '14. nsuit-,able means, eden-'ee U-Slidded 'elaiupe 23, are used te -elemp tire eeii'tral eert oiiuaiii spring 2| iix'edl'y te the 'dross members-ls that form teilen i4.

ei'eareii'ee for trie end pforti'eiisvei -seat- .ing member li), a'nd the ymoet 'effective Vliens-ioning results therefor, 'are obtained by constructing main retiring '2l ed `tliatjits erid portions curve downwardly. nach eiipliiijg spring 22 is preferably inthe feriti er 'a rielieal vpull spring, and has opposite 'ends attached in suitableguianner portions oi 'main spring 211 and seating member l0. Theierigth ileeli ebuiiliii'e eiiriiig 22 'elidiild Vte 'suele that 'be'tlieaii euupliiig sii-ridge will be "axielly'distended 'and uii'der seine, tensidn, inV assembled rrelatidn to main spring 21 vand 'seating member,

when said seating member in 'a `state of horizontal equilibrium. The precise mistici-ding er the tensioning '-iilee'rlso'r seating member lo will -be subsequently described;

In order t'o afford 'maximum scurit-.rior 'riders of the seesaw device, handle bars 20 V'aire vsilpp'let'ezity stirrup inedite 2a' which are located in appropriate positions below said 'hand-le bars and Y iii dependent 'reiatidii te seating ideriitiegr my VJust fe'etlie li'aiidieb'ais '2o simulate bridle reins for .iidrseliaer riding, se dd 'trie stirrdpiiiedne .'2-'4 A'eiiiiulate saddle Surftips, yBeth are vdesieiied te i'a'lie operational fuse 'di lthe seesaw device es n n'gaspossible. lth'ough g'iea't varia loni'n the physical 'structure of the stlrrjiriiieaiis 2l is permissible within Y trie is'e'pe di the invention, it islpieferred te een- "2'215 in tire manner Shown l ve'. In ac'cordanefwth this red embodiment, alsubstantially 'Li-'shaped 'stiffuairaiiie '2t ie xed in inverted pdeitioii to eridjpdrtitin di main spring 2 l, wliierilejtter rs .straddled 'by 'seid frame 2t with`V the "l''tly upon 'main spi'i'ng'l. Apical portion 2'6 of stirrup frame 25 is provided with a smooth 'surfaced vertical hole 21 that is adapted to registr vfith a 'similar h'ole 28 iii main spring 2| at 4 the desired location for slidable reception of a stirrup hanger member 29, which preferably is in the form of a metallic rod of suitable cross-section, and which is-capiable of longitudinal movement relative to the stirrup frame 25 and main spring member 2|, thus corresponding in function to the stirrup leather of a riding saddle. Hanger member 29 is screwthreaded at both ends land has a stop member 30 in the form of a nut adj'ustably engaged with the upper' end portion thereof to limit downward longitudinal movevment of said hanger member 29 relative to the stirrup frame 25. Through contact of stop member 3B with Ithe apical portion 2B of stirrup frame 25, said mainspring is adapted to serve as primary 'resilient suspension means for stirrup hanger member 29. In order toprovide auxiliary resilient suspension means for stirrup hanger member 29 which will be of less strength than the said primary resilientsuspension means, a helicall pull spring V-3I is interposed between the upper end offstirrup hanger member 29 and the adjacent end portion of seating member I0 and is' connected between said stir-rap hanger vmembl' '2 9 and th seating -ineinbi' I0 by suitable m'eansff-Io `cicirnrnlfete the stirrulp means 24, a horizontal sti-irip'bar 312 is mounted for vertical sliding movement in longitudinalguide slots 33 provided-'in side ,portions =34 of 'sti'rrup frame 25 and is centrally apertured 'for reception 'of the lower end of the stirrup hanger member 29, which is se'cllr'edl'iii'edly to Ysaid 'stir'rup bar 32 by opposed il'uts 36 and 3l.A Stirru'p bar 32 has stirr'llps 38, which may be ofan'y conventional For use in' connection with the seesaw device, wherein the 'usual two rider-s will be seated on the `elo-ngated and narrow seating member lo at locations fairlyl remote from the `slpp'oi'ting structure II, so that said supporti-ng 'Structure will not be -Straddled by the fri'd'er's, each stir'rup bal'. I32 may be comparatively sl'l'ort.I Therefore, it is praciorble 5to "I-llfake s-trrb bar 32 'from a short len-ether strap metal. hi 'order to incl-ease 'tire ity 'of lstlfrup 'bar 32, reduce the width of lguie`-slots 33, 'and -provide with 'bearing V.portions 32' ff'or t'r bear-ing icontact with the 'e'dges of 'said 1g" de slots, Sti up iba-'r y312 may be twisted in f the manner Bee-euse of Ythe twisted form of 'stiriup bail' 32, 'the lower ends 'of guide slots order to permit referentiee #character 39 designates the principal element, or hoof, whidh -is 'attached to the lower end of yeach l'eg |'5 ibysu-itable means, such las attaching b'olt 40. `Ho'offi is yin theform of an inverted cup the sole rim fel of' which is adapted to'beaij A'directly upon the yfloor or otherl surface. HoofA 39 preferably fig made orflexible resilient material, such as soft rubber or the ilik'e.V On'e reason 'foil'- inaking 1hoof 3970i fsoft rubber -i the Y'ence' 'to' the floor or `'oiili'er l1'supporti'rxg surface under certain condition'sjdf oper'ation. sole yrim "4 i fw'ere absolutely ',fl'atwith l'all points thereof 'Uccidi arterftiie 'mst-vertidai :bounce of riding gap 43 is formed in sole rim 4I.

motion, regardless of amplitude, 'due to forcible evacuation yof air from the interior of hoof 39 between Vsole rim 4I 'and the'oor, during the downward Vcompression of side walls 42 of said hoof; vandsubsequent maintenance of an airtight joint al1 around .the vsole rim 4I. This suction cup` action is desirable as a means forpreventing the' seesaw device from' moving ,'away 'from the position chosen for operative use, but Ahasthe disadvantage that it interferes with intentional displacement, as in the return of the device to a place of vstorage after its operative use has ceased for 'the time being. It having been found that accidental horizontal displacement or shifting Voccurs only during excessive bouncing caused by violent actuating impulses applied to the seating member I by the riders, provision has been made avoiding suction cup action during'normal bouncing of small amplitude. Atr the front portion of each hoof 39 an upward offset vor cutaway 'Ihis `offset 43 should be of just sufcient depth to maintain the front portion of sole rim 4Il elevated from the floor during limited bouncing movements` that are not severe enough to cause'the undesirable horizontal shift or displacement. Under such conditions, an atmospheric vent will be provided and no suction cupaction can take place during vibratory movements of limitedl amplitude.

'While the softness and'flexibility of `the material of which hoof 39 is made is favorable to thesuction cup action, the inherent resiliency is suiiicient only to tend to support the Weight of the seesaw device and its riders, as has already been stated. In order toA afford added resilient strength and stronger elastic reaction and -thu's y enable the footing means I6 not only to vafford adequate support under all operating conditions, but also to contribute to desired vibratory bouncing movement', a helical reinforcing spring 44 has been fitted inside each hoof 39 in interposed relation to the top wall 45 thereof and an internal flange 46 formed on sole rim 4I. Reinforcing spring 44 preferably conforms in shape to the side walls 42 so that it cannotbecome dislodged from confinement within the hoof interior.

The modified formv of footing means shown in NFig. differs from the embodiment just described in two respects. In the'rst place, yreinforcing spring 44 is imbedded in the side walls 42 of hoof 39 instead of being nested therein. Secondly, the attaching means has been altered to permit some regulation of the resiliency of the topV wall 45 of hoof 39. To this end the screw plug 41 has been substituted for bolt 40 of the Fig. 4 embodiment. Screw plug 41, which has an enlarged head 48, is adapted to be screwed into threaded hole 49 provided in the lower end of each legI 5 of supporting structure Il. A circular aperture 50 is provided in top wall 45 of hoof 39. This aperture' 50 is the same in diameter as the shank portion of screw plugA 41, except for a medial annular groove 5I that is adapted to receive the head 48 .of screw vplug '41 when forcibly inserted therein by expansion of the soft rubber walls of aperture 50. When screw plug 41 is screwed more or less tightly into threaded hole 49 in leg I5, head 48 0f said screw plug will compress t0 desiredl degree, the portion of top wallV 45 interposed between head 48 and thelower end of leg I5 and thereby harden or soften the said portion of top wall 45 so as to reduce or increase the give or amplitude of resilient vertical motion thereof during operation of the seesaw device. Advantage may be taken of the regulating means just described to make delicate adjustment of -the-clegree-of resiliency ofthe footing means I6 in-relation one tor another, and' thereby determine the amplitude of normal bouncing lof respective footingv means within limits of which suction' cup action ofthe'hoofs 39 will notoccur. fl'- Referring now to Figs. 6 and '1, it will be seen that the `hobby horse embodiment of the invention is an outgrowth of the seesaw/device, the incased portion Lof which is outlined in: broken lines. Practically the only modification ofthe supporting structure II Arequired'has vbeen m'od- 'erate horizontal elongation of the upper por'- `tion thereof and the substitution of legs I5 which more realistically simulate a horses legs.vr v"-Ihe seating member comprises two spaced side-byn side frame bars I8 and I. shortened to flt in- 'side and support a simulated horse body 52. After body 52ha s been rigidly affixed to the frame bars, the said seating member is thus Ygiven the form and appearance of a horse body, so that the term seating member applies to both the relatively long seating member I9 of the seesaw device of rFigQl, which accommodates two riders, and to the shorter and more massive hobby horse body 52 which accommodates one rider. Main spring 2l of the tensioning means for seating member kconstituted by the horse bodyv 52 has beenjshortened for'correspondence to the lengthof the lframe-bars I8 and I8 thereof. Forthe'realistic effect, a bridle 54 and reins 55 have .beenl applied to the horse head appendage 56 of body 52. Reins 55 replace handle bars 28 of the seesaw device of Fig. *1, `and likewise serve as means for preserving rider balance and to assist in imparting actuating impulses to thehobby horse body.l A saddle 51 and its girth 58 preferably are formed integral with body 52 in the appropriate location. The pivotal connection between hobby horse seating member and the supporting structureA Il thereof, is constituted by trunnion member I8 which is supported by and across the frame-bars' I0 and I9" so as to be journaled in notches I1 of the supporting structure, and should be located directly beneath saddle 51. The single stirrup means 24' is positioned appropriately almost directly below the forward part of saddle 51 and yet far enough forward to obtain the resilient lsuspension effect of main spring 2l, to the forward end portion of which it is attached.v As shown in Fig. 7, Vit has been necessary to modify the stirrup means 24 slightly in order to make allowances for the increased width of the seating means as constituted by horse body 52.V The stirrups 38 must be sufficiently far apart to project laterally outward from the sides of horse body 52 to external position wherein they are accessible to the feet of the rider, therefore, stirrup bar 32 hasbeen given the required length to such end. In ord-er to strengthen stirrup bar 32 in its velongated condition, a socket member 59 has been mounted above the said stirrup bar for reception of hanger member 29 at a point vertically spaced from the point of attachment of said hanger 7 change in construction yof seating member, .so susf pension-spring 3l is now coupled to saidseating member through the medium of plate 6l that bridges the frame bars I' and i0" and which .is xedly secured in any suitable manner .so .said frame bars.

lPreparatory to use of `either the ordinary .seesaW embodiment of the invention or .the hobby horse embodiment, stirrup means 24 should .be adusted to accommodate the leg length of each rider. This may be done very easily by screwing stop member downward to reduce downward movement of hanger member 29, and thus .to shorten the eifective stirrup length or upward to .increase downward movement of .hanger member 29., and -thus to lengthen the eiectivestirrup length. Furthermore, if a cantering gait is to be attempted, by actuating impulses to .be described later herein, the screw plugs 41 of the '.le-t .hind Aand right iront hooves 39, respectively, should Ibe .loosened in ord-er to .afford greater give to these hooves.

The operation of the vseesaw device should be .readily understood upon `further reference to Figs. -1 to 5. Without riders, .seating .member .is maintained the level position shown in vfull lines vin Fig. l1 due to its .gravitationally balanced conditionand to the added stabilizing .influence of the tensioning .means .represented by main spring 2| and'coupling springs 22. VWhen .two riders .desire to mount seating member |50, all each 'has to dois to stand .at the left .of his selected end of the seating member, grasp -the corresponding handle bar 20 with the left hand, .place the left fool; .in

.stirrup `38 on the .near side, and then mount seating member i0 in the same .manner vthat a horse .is mounted. .Itis advisable -that both riders mount at the same .instant so .that their Weights will balance each other'. However, with the tensioning .means vfor seating member l Itending to resist movement of the Jlatter, mounting is much `easier Vthan in the case of a freely .movable seatingmember of a seesaw of ordinary type.

.As .in the use Yof any seesaw device, the .riders `have .to coordinate their .actuating movements, but the nature `and .degree of .force `ofsuch move- Aments is quite different in the operation .of the instant seesaw device. It has .already ybeen stated that no .ground vkicking .is required. When .one .rider leans backward at the same time .that .the -ether rider leans forward, seating -member lL!) will vrespond quickly by pitching iin the direc- .tion -of the fbackwardly leaning rider, due tothe comparatively weak 4resistance to :such movement oftered .by .the coupling .spring 22 .that is placed under tensionalstrain. Assuming Vthat the rider `on .the .right end of seating `member I0 in Fig. 1 hasleanedbackwar-d .(to .the right) .andthe .other rider has leaned forward (to the .right falso), coupling spring .-22 .at Athe right .end Lof seating y.member Hl, fbeing .already .under static tension,

will contract .as the seating member pitches to `the right. The other coupling spring .22, .on the contrary, wil-l .be .stretched by the lifting motion of the Vleft end of seating .member. .Further pitching movementof .seating member .I' toward -the right, as implled by momentum-.of the riders 'bodies and possible addedmuscular exertions .and weight shifting .on their part, will 'bring main spring '2l in'to play. 'The resulting upward .bendring of the le't endportion of main spring 2l 'and 'the indirectly proportioned 'stretching and contraction .of the left .and right coupling 'springs 22 `respectively .are represented 'in broken rlines in Fig. 1. The vstronger*resiiience of main `spring 2l will resist accelerated pitching movement of seating" memberlll ,and eventually Will retard this lmovement with a soft cushioningv 'effect'. which vwill beV 'followed by ypositive recoiling reaction that will lift the .rider von' the right end of :seating .member Il) and .start theV seating'mem# ber lil onpitching .movement in the reversefdif rection (toward the left) with little or no assistance on the part of the riders. .From then on. continued seesaw motion may be maintained with minimum exertion. The pitching motion will vbe smooth and characterized Vby the inertia, of the seating member lHl that is caused 'to .a great degree by the influence .of the tensioning means. The eiect of this inertia on the riders will be quite similar to the eliect .produced by the Vinertia of a horses body mass and muscular exerl'tions during actual horseback riding. Consequen'tly, the riders of my seesaw device will have to keep4 their seats by .consciously balancing themselves in anticipation 'of the forceful reactionsof the .seating member JI'D and its tensioning means.

In further .simulation of the realistic lInovemen-ts and forces of horseback riding, the action of .resilient ,footing means 'i6 will be brought into play by the riders. 'By rising in their stirrups and `regaining their seats repeatedly 'in vproper rhythm, .as .in posting in actual equitation, the supporting structure vIl and surmounting .seating member .l D .as `a unit maybe causedto move with up .and down vibratory motion, and thus to jog or'bounce up and down Ain simulation .of the trotting gait of a horse. As a variation of this motion, by .alternately leaning .slightly to 'the rig-ht and left 'in .opposite direction, the riders may cause .the seesaw device as a unit 'to sway rin unison with the other motions and thereby assume a simulated canter'ing gait, wherein the horses ee't tread the ground as follows.: '(1) 'left "hindfootg '(2) both right bind footandleft iront foot.; '(3) right .front rfoot; `and 'then the reverse (4) 'both right 'hindjfoot andletront `foot; '(5) 'left hind foot. This valternate right and le'ft swaying movement of the canter is repeated continuously vandis a very ,pleasant riding gait.

In the use .of the 'hobbyhorse embodiment .disclosed 'in Figs. '6 and 7 'the ultimate 'in simulation .of Yactual horseback riding may be achieved. VIn this instance, of course, there will be a single rider. Due to 4his position directly .above the Ypivotal axis of 'the .seating member, which now includes 'the horse `body 52 as a unitary ,part thereof, the rider can induce pitching .motion quite .easilyby proper use .of reins 55 .andby 'forward and back 'leaning of body. Due vto the resilien't jfodtmjg means, the ,pitching motion is Vaccomp'anied .by '.vertica'l .vibratory movements,

' otally mounted -on 'said supporting 'structure 'for oscillatory movements in vertical plane, a spring bar spaced 'beneath ,and .substantially coextensive with said seating member with its mid-portion vaffixed to the supporting structure, -pull-springs interconnecting Yfree -end `portions 'of the spring hbarvv'ith corresponding free .end portions of the seating member, Jstirrup means 'dependent 'from the seating member and spring ban-"said supporting structure having longitudinally spaced y leg membersat its respective sides,:and said 4leg members'terminatingin resilient footing means which are yieldable to limited. sway and up and down vibratorymovementsxof the supporting structure during oscillatoryy movements ,ofy the seating member, each rfooting meansI comprising an inverted cup-shaped body of resilient material secured by` its top wallto the end of a leg member with itsgmouth rim adapted to contact the surface upon? which the supporting structure stands, a reenforcing helical compression spring within said body,` and said mouth rim 'having a, cutaway portion normally out of contactwith said surface to provide an air vent in` communication with the body interior,l whereby to prevent suction cup actionby the body during up and down vibratory movements of the supporting structure within normal amplitude limits. f v

2. Ina device of the kind described as dened in claim 1- wherein the stirrup means includes a stirrup frame afxed to and dependent from the spring bar, a transverse stirrup bar vertically slidable in said frame, stirrup members carried by the oppositely extending yend portions of said stirrup bar, a hanger member for support of the stirrup bar, said hanger member being vertically movable in said frame, means to yieldably suspend said hanger member from the seating member, and adjustable stop means to limit downward movement of the hanger member.'

3. A device of the kind described comprising a supporting structure formed by laterally spaced side members each having longitudinally diverging leg members to provide the supporting structure with a four point footinga seating member pivotally mounted on said supporting structure for oscillatory movements in vertical plane, resilient tensioning means connected between the supporting structure and opposite end portions of the seating member, whereby oscillatory movements of the seating member will be retarded as extremes of amplitude thereof are approached, and said leg members of the supporting structure terminating in resilient footing means which are yieldable to limited sway and up and down vibratory movements of the supporting structurel during oscillatory movements of the seating member, each footing means comprising an inverted cup-shaped body of resilient material secured by its top wall to the end of a leg member with its mouth rim adapted to contact the surface upon which the supporting structure stands.

4. A device of the kind described comprising a supporting structure formed by laterally spaced.

side members each having longitudinally diverging leg members to provide the supporting structure with a four point footing, a seating member pivotally mounted on said supporting structure for oscillatory movements in vertical plane, resilient tensioning means connected between the supporting structure and opposite end portions of the seating member, whereby oscillatory movements of the seating member will be retarded as extremes of amplitude thereof are approached, and said leg members of the supporting structure terminating in resilient footing means which are yieldable to limited sway and up and down vibratory movements of the supporting structure during oscillatory movements of the seating member, each footing means comprising an inverted cup-shaped body of resilient. material secured'by its top `wall to the end of a leg member withf. its mouth rim tact. with said 'surface to provide anr air vent in communication with the body interior, whereby to-prevent=suction cup action by the Ubody during up and down vibratory movements of the supporting structure within normal amplitude limits. i l

5. A device rvof'the kind described comprising a supporting. .structure yformed by laterally Vspaced side members each having longitudinally diverging leg members to provide vthe supporting structure-with a four. pointy-footing, a seating member 'pivotally -mounted Aon'said supporting Y structure for oscillatory movements inY vertical plane, resilient. tensioning means connectedfbetween thesu'pporting structure and opposite end portions of. the seating 'member, whereby oscillatory movements of the seating.` member will be retarded as extremes `of amplitude thereof are approached, and said legimembers ofthe f supporting structure terminating in resilient ments of the seating member, each footing means comprising "an inverted .cup-shaped body of resilient material secured byV its top wall to the end of a leg member with its mouth rim adapted to contact the'surface upon which the supporting structure stands, and a reenforcing helical compression spring within said body.

6. A device of the kind described comprising y a supporting structure formed by laterally spaced Y sway and up and down vibratory movements of the supporting structure during oscillatory movements of the seating member, each footing means comprising an inverted cup-shaped body of resilient material secured by its top wall to the end of a leg member with its mouth rim adapted to contact the surface upon which the supporting structure stands, a reenforcing helical compression spring within said body, said mouth rim having a cutaway portion normally out of contact with said surface to provide an air vent in communication with the body interior, -whereby to prevent suction cup action by the body during up and down vibratory movements of the supporting structure within normal amplitude limits, and a reenforcing helical compression spring within said body.

'7. A device of the kind described comprising a supporting structure formed by laterally spaced side members each having longitudinally diverging leg members to provide the supporting structure with a four foot point footing, a seating member pivotally mounted on said supporting structure for oscillatory movements in vertical plane, resilient tensioning means connected be- '1'1 tween the supporting structure and oppositezend portions of the seating member, whereby oscillatory' movements of the seating member will be retarded as extremes of amplitude thereof are approached, and said leg members'ofv the Yregulation of the resilient reaction ofthe footing means/of respective, leg members in relation 'one to another.

8., A device of the described comprising a supporting structure fom'ned by laterally spaced side members each having longitudinally'diverging leg Ymembers to provide'the supporting structure with aY four point footing, a seating member pivotally mounted on said supporting structure'forV oscillatory movements in vertical plane, resilient tensioning means connected between the supporting structure and opposite. end

portions of the seating member, whereby oscillatory movements of the seating member will be retarded as extremes of amplitude thereof are approached, and said leg members ofthe supporting structure terminating in resilient footing means which are yieldable to limited lI2 sway andA up and down vibratory movements of the supporting Vstructure during oscillatory movements of the seating membeneach footing means corrnorising an inverted cup-shaped body of resilient material,4 adjustable'rneans cooperative 'with the top wall of each body both to fasten the same to a leg member and to predetermine the compression of' its top wall, whereby to permit regulation of the resilient reaction of the footing means of the respective leg members in relation one to another,A areenforcing helical compression spring within each body,v the mouth rim of each body being adapted to contact the surface upon which the supporting structure stands, and each mouth rim having a cutaway portion normally out of contact with said surface to provide an air vent in communication with the body interior, whereby to prevent suction cup action by the body during up and down' vibratory movements of the supporting structure within normal amplitude limits.

HENRY H. WHEATON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordin the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,637,693v Pratt Oct. 16, 1928 1,866,906 Rager July 12, 1932 2,111,891 Glamos Mar. 22, 1938 2,433,735 Buczkowski Dec. 30, 1947

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