Patent GB-666207-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to mechanically actuated articulated figures
IPC: A47F8/00
Filed: 1947-10-10
Abstract: 666,207. Displaying. COCKADE, Ltd., and JEPSON, B. Nov. 10, 1948 [Oct. 10, 1947], No. 27315/47. Class 3(i) [Also in Group XV] A mechanically actuated articulated figure of the type comprising a main body portion and jointed arms or other jointed component parts includes a bent rod extending through the body, rotation or oscillation of said rod causing relative movement between various parts of the body and/or between the body and a jointed component, and the said joint e d component and/or other jointed components are simultaneously caused to execute further movements about their articulated joints by means of strings or the like actuated by cams, cranks or equivalent means. The movements of the jointed components may be in phase or out of phase, and are such that the time interval is relatively long between occasions on which similar movements occur at similar positions. Preferably the movements are actuated by irregularly shaped cams co-operating with cam followers to which strings, wires or other flexible tensile means are attached, some or all of the strings passing into the interior of the figure at one or more inconspicous positions. As shown the trunk 1 and legs 2 of the figure form the body, the arms 3 and head forming articulated components attached thereto. The figure is mounted on a lower tube 5 extending through a platform beneath which the cam mechanism is arranged. The lower end of tube 5 is rotatably supported in a sleeve 26, Fig. 3, carried in bearings mounted on the framework 33 of the actuating mechanism. The upper end of the sleeve 26 carries arms 34 forming part of a gimbal fitting and pivotally connected to a ring 35 to which is also pivoted arms 36 of another gimbal secured to one of the legs 2. The bottom end of tube 5 is coupled through bevel gears to the shaft 39 which is provided with a sprocket 41 driven electrically. The lower tube 5 is slightly bent at 6 and continues upward at an angle centrally within one of the legs of the figure, terminating at hip level An upper tube 9 fits into the upper end of tube 5 and extends upward, being bent at the waist 10 and continuing centrally upward with the chest. The head and neck are carried on a rod 12 the lower end of which fits non- rotatably into the top of the upper tube 9. Rod 12 is also slightly bent to incline the head. The exterior of the figure is in the form of a hollow metal or plastic shell and is supported from the lower tube by a bush 14 within the foot through which the tube passes and by an internal bracket 15 at hip level. Spaced internal brackets 11, 13, through which the upper tube 9 passes attach the shell to the upper tube. Strings 18 in the form of flexible cables which pass through the body and are attached to controlling wheels 19, 20 and 21 control the movements of the head and arms. Suitable housings 22 are provided for these strings, the upper ends of the housings being attached to internal brackets 21a within the chest. Shafts 23 extend down the upper part of the arms and are bent at the shoulder joint and extend inwardly substantially perpendicular to tube 9 within the body. The shafts are supported in bearings 24. Between said bearing each shaft carries a controlling wheel 19, and each string 18 of a pair of strings is passed around the wheel 19 in opposite directions and is attached to the circumference of the wheel. Further strings 18 are connected to wheel 20 fixed on a tubular sleeve 25 surrounding the shaft 23 for turning the arm about the shoulder joint. Another pair of strings pass over idler pulleys and in opposite directions partially round and fixed to the circumference of a controlling wheel 21 rotatably carried on the upper tube 9. The strings 18 and housing 22 pass down the leg 2 and emerge beneath the platform. The strings are there passed round pulleys 42 carried on the framework and connect with bell crank levers 28 each freely mounted on a common horizontal shaft 29. Each bell crank carries at its other end a small roller 30 adapted to rotate on the periphery of one of a plurality or rotatable cams 31 driven by a motor. A pair of bell crank levers are operated by each cam. The cams are so shaped that the pair of bell crank levers to which are attached the pair of strings attached to one of the controlling wheels 19, 20, 21 simultaneously move in opposite directions by equal amounts. The sleeve 26 may also be provided with a controlling wheel 27 to which similar strings may be attached for turning the body back and forth. The parts of the shell are suitably flared at the joints to prevent the appearance of gaps during movement. In a modification the movements of the body and head may be caused to occur more slowly than those of the arms by provision of a separate shaft for the appropriate cams, this shaft rotating more slowly. Another modification is described in which the figure revolves as a whole. Further a group of figures may be provided, such as a row of chorus girls performing dance movements. The Provisional Specification also describes a modification in which the shell is supported on a rotatable tube terminating within the chest, which tube has operating strings for the jointed components passing through it.