Marcella finds the Cheetah patent - with graphics!!!

Marcella found the Cheetah patent!

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Marcella said...

Did y'all find the patent yet? I believe this is it.

3,884,501 - "Foot Operated Junior Vehicle"

Go to this link and do a search on the patent number.

http://patft.uspto.gov/netahtml/PTO/srchnum.htm

-Marcella
(marcmarc2 at yahoo dot com)

November 25, 2008 7:23 PM

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Blessed with a still working Cheetah!

So, I just found your blog about the Cheetah. I still have mine and my 6 yr old absolutely loves it. The seat is beginning to crack but the pedals work great. It’s nice to know there are others who enjoyed it as much as I did. Too bad there’s not a big toy company that will bring them back. Probably some safety issue like the pedals could pinch fingers---back in our day, that was not a big deal. ~Libby

Cheetah Manual

Huge thanks to Paul for sending us a Cheetah Manual!

Cheetah patents?

For those of y'all blessed to have one, please post any patent numbers that you can find on your Cheetah! I am guessing that at least the chain drive was patented. Those wanting to attempt building a remake could use the patent information as a guide.

Thanks!

Cheetah photographs!

I've added 4 great photographs sent by johnnymonstrous. Thanks johnnymonstrous and other folks who have sent in photographs!

Thanks and a prototype...

Much thanks to the folks who sent photographs for the site (posted on the right)!

Keith Underdahl reports that his grandma worked at Lakeside in Minneapolis. His Cheetah was apparently a prototype!

The Best Toy...

Shaun said...

This was the best toy I can remember having. even better than the Green Machine.

I had one of these when I was about 5. (32 years ago) I still remember it as the best toy I've ever had.

January 23, 2008

Cheetah plans and close-up photographs

Some time ago I received an email indicating an individual had a set of schematic/shop plans for the Cheetah. If you have a set of these as well as any close-up photographs, please email me (tsgrue@gmail.com) and I'll post them.

Several folks have expressed interest in trying to build something like the Cheetah for their kids, so resources like schematic/shop plans and close-up photographs would be an excellent resource. The ratcheting pump chain drive in particular seemed fairly uncommon and information on that would be helpful.

Also - remember to include your email address on posts if you want correspondence from folks looking at this W3log.

Thanks!

Pictures...

Eric Carlson said (January 8, 2008 7:42 AM)...

Well all if anyone still needs pictures give me your email and I will get out a few for you. I still have mine. Stays in the garage now with a wheel that needs to be fixed. If you can believe it, its the front wheel in where the rubber has gotten old, not the back ones. Other then that she is still in good shape and still works.

My father worked for Lakeside till they where bought in the mid 80s. I can't remember who bought them, but they were the Lakeside Toys on 78th Street in Bloomington, MN. The building is long gone turned into a Hotel.