An Improved Toy.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 2nd May, 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Toy.
I, ULRICH GRENINGER, of St. Gall, Switzerland, Mechanicien, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and the manner in which the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying drawing, that is to say :-
My present invention relates to an improved toy, in which a disc or wheel is
made to revolve freely by turning or moving a handle or lever, the revolving disc
being contained in a case or chamber in which a suitably arranged opening is made
through which figures or other devices upon the disc can be seen when the latter is
at rest, such figures varying according to the position in which the disc stops, and
novel apparatus being used to ensure the stopping of the disc so that one or other
of the devices or figures is exactly under the opening.
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of my invention.
Figure 1 is a top view of the apparatus or toy.
Figure 2 is a similar view with the cover removed.
Figure 3 is a view from below of the revolving disc.
Figure 4 is a side view, and
Figure 6 a vertical section of the toy.
a is a box or chamber, of wood, metal, or other suitable material, and preferably
Inside this box 1
circular in plan as shewn, and of any desired size and thickness.
arrange a horizontal disc turning upon a vertical axis r, shewn in Figure 5 carried
by the bottom of the box. Above the disc bis screwed or fixed a knob or handle d,
by which the disc b can be set in revolution when desired. Above the moveable
disc ba concentric disc e is fixed to the top of the box a to which it forms a cover,
and this disce has an opening through which part of the disc b can be seen.
Upon the upper face of the disc ba series of figures or other devices are formed or
In
marked, so that one or more of them can be seen through the opening f
Figure 2 twenty figures are shewn in two sets numbered from 1 to 10, and
alternately in black, and red or other colour (as indicated by dotted lines).
Round the outer edge of the upper fixed disc or cover e a series of numbers or
other devices are also made. In Figure 1 twenty such numbers are shewn, in two
sets of ten each, the alternate ones being of a different colour to the remainder, as
indicated by dotted lines.
g
To the revolving spindle of the disc b or to the handle d, an index hand is
fixed which points to one or other of the numbers or devices upon the disc or cover e
when the moving disc b stops.
In order to ensure the disc always stopping in exactly the right position that is
to say that the index hand g points directly to one of the numbers on the cover e
and so that the numbers upon the lower revolving disc shew exactly in the opening f,
I fix to the lower face of the revolving disc b a number of projecting iron pins h,
equal in number to the numbers upon the fixed disc or cover e, and I fix to the
bottom of the box a a magnet i so adjusted that when either of the iron pins his
exactly opposite to and between its poles (as shewn in Figure 3) the index hand 9
and the revolving disc bare exactly in one of the positions in which they should be
when at rest, as already described.
When the disc is at the point of stopping, whichever of the pins h happens to
be nearest to the poles of the magnet will be attracted and the disc will be held
sufficiently steadily in its place, whilst the attraction is not sufficient to interfere
with its free revolution.
As a toy the apparatus is used by spinning the disc b by the handle d, and
watching to see whether when it comes to rest, the index hand points to a higher

page_text: or lower number or other device, or to red or black, and whether the numbers or
devices seen through the opening are more red than black or vice versa, or
whether they are higher or lower than those displayed when the disc last came
to rest.
The apparatus may be modified in various ways. For example, instead of one
revolving disc, two or more may be used suitably arranged each being provided with
iron pins and a magnet, and being set in motion separately or simultaneously.
The edge of the revolving disc may also be provided with numbers or devices to
be seen through an opening or openings at the edge of the box.
Or two or more separate concentric discs may be used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. The combination of the case a, moving disc b and handle d, pins h, magnet i,
and index hand 9, pointing to a number or device upon the cover of the case a,
substantially as described and shewn in the drawing.
2. The combination of the case a, moving disc b having numbers or devices upon
its upper face, handle d, opening f, pins h, and magnet i, substantially as described
and shewn in the drawing.
3. In combination with a revolving disc, the pins h, and magnet i, substantially as
and for the purpose described and shewn in the drawing.
Dated 1 J
1001
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant.