Patent GB-638712-A (GB)
Title: Remotely controlled mechanical toys and amusement devices
IPC: A63H17/36
Filed: 1947-06-26
Abstract: 638,712. Mechanical toys. GOWLAND, J. P. June 26, 1947, No. 16859. [Class 132 (iii)] A mechanical toy or amusement device has a movable part driven by a spring motor or elastic band motor and, for winding the spring or the like; a reciprocatory ratchet device or equivalent coupling manually operated by remote control means. The motor may be a clockwork or a torsional elastic band motor. Spring or like means maintain the ratchet device or its equivalent in one end position and winding may either take place as the ratchet moves from its normal position, the device returning idly to its normal position, or vice versa. Preferably the toys are locomotive toys but they may be stationary. There may be a plurality of motors operating different working parts, each with a winding member as described. As shown, a toy automobile comprises a body 15 and a chassis plate 10 carrying steerable front wheels 11 and rear wheels 12 driven through gearing by a clockwork spring motor wound by a ratchet mechanism. A two-core Bowden wire is provided, one core for steering the front wheels and the other for winding the motor. The motor comprises a spiral spring encircling a shaft 17, the inner end of the spring being anchored to the shaft and the outer end to the chassis. A wheel 20 is keyed on the shaft adjacent to a pinion 19, mounted freely on the shaft, which may be engaged by resilient tongues 21, projecting from the wheel 20, which engage in corresponding hollows 22 in the pinion 19 (see Fig. 3), when the wheel 21 is rotated in one direction whereas on reversing the wheel 21, the wheel faces slide over one another. A helical spring, or the like, mounted on the shaft 17 may be used to hold these wheels in contact. The pinion drives the axle 23 of the rear wheels through a gear chain. The various shafts and axles are supported in bearings formed by part-cylindrical depressions 27 with straps 28 secured over them. A pawl 30 which engages the teeth of the wheel 20 is pivoted on an arm 29 freely pivoted on the main shaft 17. A spring 31 has one end anchored to the chassis and the other end attached to the pawl 30 so as to pull the pawl and arm in an anticlockwise direction (Fig. 1), with the pawl disengaged from the wheel, 20 towards the stop 32. A Bowden wire has its outer sheath 34 attached to the body 15 and one of its two inner control members 36 attached to the pawl. On pulling the member 36 the arm and pawl will rotate and bring the pawl into engagement. with the teeth of the wheel 20 and then will turn the wheel clockwise (Fig. 1) and wind the spring partly. On releasing the member 36 the pawl returns, out of engagement with the wheel, to its original position, The toy is wound up by repeating this operation a number of times. The operator's hold on the cable and the weight of the car prevent the spring from unwinding during the return stroke but a brake may be included in the mechanism. The axle 38 of the front wheels 11 is mounted on a turn-table 39, rotatably secured to the chassis by a rivet 40, by means of tongues 42 struck out from the turntable. The latter has upstanding projections 43 which pass through arcuate slots 44 in the chassis and limit the steering. A biassing spring 45 is attached at one end to one of the projections 45 and at the other to the chassis. A flexible control member 46, which forms the second core of the Bowden wire, is attached to the same projection as the spring. The Bowden wire has a pistol-like handle with a trigger 52 which actuates the member 36 and a wheel 56, on a winding drum on the shaft of which the end of the member 46 is wound, which actuates the steering mechanism. A toy boat may be made as described; the motor driving the propeller and the steering mechanism steering the rudder. A quadruped animal figure with articulated legs may be made with a motor as already described which operates the legs. Wheels are suitably mounted on the feet of the animal so that the animal walks along when the legs move. It may represent a horse (Fig. 4, not shown) with the head and a rider loosely attached so as to sway about and the front and rear legs arranged to reciprocate in opposite directions when it is moving, or a dog (Fig. 7, not shown) with a loosely attached head and front and rear legs which reciprocate in the same direction when it is moving.