Year: 1897

page_text: I, CASSIUS M. BARTHOLOMEW, of Columbus, in the County of Franklin, and
State of Ohio, United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide a toy of simple and inexpensive
construction that shall afford amusement and instruction, as well as exercise for
the eye and hand of the user.
My invention is embodied in a device consisting of a shaft having at one end
a support adapted to hold and catch a ring, and at the other a spring and devices
by the proper manipulation of which the ring may be both projected into and
twirled in the air.
At the upper end of a shaft or stem are secured a number of triangular-shaped
wings having edges inclined to and meeting in a point at the upper extremity
of the shaft. Upon the lower end of the shaft is a coiled spring that has its lower
end fastened in the shaft, and its upper end fastened in a sleeve or collar that is
capable of being turned laterally and slid longitudinally upon the shaft.
I provide a ring consisting preferably of a flat strip of paper or other light
and moderately stiff material having its ends joined to form a cylinder. The ring
is preferably made of such diameter as to rest upon the lower portion of the outer
edges of the wings. The ring is placed upon the supporting wings, the sleeve or
collar is held in the fingers of one hand and the shaft or rod pulled down and
turned at the same time so as to wind up the spring with the other hand. If the end
of the shaft be now suddenly released the ring will be projected into the air with
a rotary motion. If the toy be held at an angle to the vertical, when the ring is
projected and rotated, the ring will return toward the operator after its outward
flight has ceased as the rotary motion of the ring will continue. The returning
ring may thus be caught by the operator upon the wing end of the shaft or stick
without moving from his original position on the floor or ground.
In addition, I might employ a string or cord fastened to the shaft at its upper
part and passed with a turn or two around the shaft and preferably through a small
loop or staple and finally through a small eye or loop at the lower end of the shaft.
The cord is secured in such manner that when the sleeve or collar is held fixedly
in one hand, and the shaft or cord pulled down therethrough by the end of the
string in the other the string in its engagement with the collar and loop shall twist
or rotate the shaft or rod and place it under the necessary tension of the spring
for rotating the ring when it is projected.
Dated this 14th day of December 1897.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: State of Unio, United States, or America, Genteman, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement: —
The object of my invention is to provide a toy of; simple and inexpensive
construction that shall afford amusement and instruction, as well as exercise for
the eye and hand of the user.
My invention is embodied in a device consisting of a shaft having at one end
a support adapted to hold and catch a ring, and at the other a spring and devices
by the proper manipulation of which the ring may be both projected into and
twirled in the air, as hereinafter fully set forth.
In the annexed drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the toy with its accompanying ring.
:
Fig. 2 is a similar view of a part of the shaft showing added devices for auto-
matically twisting the shaft when it is drawn down to distend the spring to its
projecting position; and
Fig. 3 is a top plan view.
Like characters of reference in the different views designate corresponding parts.
1 designates the shaft or stem of the toy. At the upper end of this are secured
a number of triangular-shaped wings 2 having edges inclined to and meeting in
a point at the upper extremity of the shaft.
Upon the lower end of the shaft is a coiled spring 3 that has its lower end
fastened in the shaft, and its upper end fastened in a sleeve or collar 4 that is
capable of being turned laterally and slid longitudinally upon the shaft.
5 designates a ring consisting, preferably, of a flat strip of paper or other light
and moderately stiff material having its ends joined to form a cylinder. The
ring is preferably made of such diameter as to rest upon the lower, portion of
the outer edges of the wings 2.
The toy as shown in Fig. 1 is used as follows:
The ring is placed upon the supporting wings in substantially the position
shown in this figure; the sleeve or collar 4 is held in the fingers of one hand and
the shaft or rod pulled down and turned at the same time
"wind up
ás to
SO
the spring with the other hand. If the end of the shaft be now suddenly released
the ring will be projected into the air with a rotary motion. If the toy be held
at an angle to the vertical, when the ring is projected and rotated, the ring will
return toward the operator after its outward flight has ceased, as the rotary motion
of the ring will continue. The returning ring may thus be caught by the operator
upon the wing end of the shaft or stick without moving from his original, position
on the floor or ground.
In addition to the parts shown in Fig. 1'I may employ a string or cord 6, as
shown in Fig. 1. This cord is fastened to the shaft at its upper part and passed
with a turn or two, as may be required, around the shaft and preferably through
a small loop or staple 7, and finally through a small eye' or loop 8 at the lower
end of the shaft. The cord is secured in such manner, that when the sleeve or
collar 4 is held fixedly in one hand, and the shaft or cord pulled down therethrough
by the end of the string in the other, the string in its engagement with the collar
and loop, shall twist or rotate the shaft or rod and place it under the necessary
tension of the spring for rotating the ring when it is projected.

page_text: I have herein chosen the best means known to me of embodying my invention
in tangible form, but do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto,
as it is susceptible of some modification without departing from the scope of my
invention. The collar, for instance, may be omitted and the upper part of the
spring taken in the fingers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. A toy consisting of a shaft having wings adapted to support loosely an open
cylindric ring on its edge, and a spring attached to said shaft whereby the latter
may be placed under lateral and longitudinal tension so that when released it
shall project and twirl said ring, substantially as set forth.
2. A toy consisting of a shaft 1 having wings 2 adapted to support loosely an
open cylindric ring on its edge, a loose collar 4 on said shaft, a spring attached
to said collar and shaft whereby the latter may be placed under lateral and
longitudinal tension so that when released the ring shall be projected and twirled,
substantially as set forth.
3. A toy consisting of a shaft 1 having wings 2 tapered toward the end of said
shaft adapted to support loosely an open cylindric ring on its edge, and a spring
attached to said shaft whereby the latter may be placed under lateral and longi-
tudinal tension so that when released it shall project and twirl said ring,
substantially as set forth.
4. A toy comprising a rod or shaft having wings meeting at a point at their
upper ends adapted to support a loose ring, a collar on said shaft or rod, a spring
attached to the collar and to the shaft, and a ring adapted to be supported upon,
projected from, and caught upon said wings.
5. In a body-projecting toy, a shaft, a movable sleeve or collar on said shaft,
a spring attached to said shaft and to said collar or sleeve, and a cord 6 attached
to said shaft above the sleeve or collar and engaging said collar and the shaft
at a point near the shaft below the collar, for the purpose explained.
Dated this 5th day of September 1898.