Improvements in and relating to Rocking Horses.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 30th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 30th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 6th June,
1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIE CATION.
Improvements in and relating to Rocking Horses.
I JOHN RANDOLPH HAMILTON of 95 Edith Road South Kensington, in the
County of Middlesex, Factor, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention
to be as follows :-
My invention relates to those types of rocking horses in which the figures of the
horses are cach mounted on levers, or their equivalents, controlled by suitable
springs, so that when set in motion by their riders their movement is akin to the
movement of a horse at a gallop, the object being to record the space through
which the figures of the horses move, so that the relative speeds at which they are
ridden may be notified to the riders.
We attain this end in the following manner-We take any given number of
these rocking horses, and in a convenient position approximate to them, we fix a
large dial having a number of hands equivalent to the number of horses used, one
liand to each horse, the hands and horses being indicated by colors or numbers.
Motion is communicated from the horses to the hands by any suitable train of
mechanism the reciprocating motion of the horses being converted into rotary
motion by means of any suitable form of clutch, which will impart a speed of
rotation to the hands on the dial equivalent to the space through which the figures
of the horses move in each reciprocation.
The dial may be marked out to represent any suitable distance.
If desired an extra hand may be used on the dial driven by clockwork, the
mechanism of which is adapted to enable the hand to be set to travel round the
dial at any given speed.
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Taal 1900
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70-72, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Rocking Horses.
I,, JOHN RANDOLPH HAMILTON of 95 Edith Road, West Kensington, in the
County of Middlesex, Factor, 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
My invention relates to those types of rocking horses in which the figures of the
horses are mounted on levers, or their equivalents, controlled by suitable springs
so that when set in motion by their riders their movement is akin to the movement
of a horse at a gallop, the object being to record the space through which the
figures of the horses move, so that the relative speeds at which they are operated,
or ridden, may be notified to the riders.
I attain this end in the following manner :-I take any given number of these
rocking horses and in a convenient position approximate to them I fix a large dial
having a number of hands equal to the number of horses used, one hand to each
horse the hands and horses being indicated by like colors or numbers. Motion is
communicated from the horses to the hands on the dial by means of a connecting
rod, which takes its motion from any convenient part of the moving mechanism of
each horse, and operates through a lever a rocking shaft carrying pawls engaging
with a pair of ratchet wheels mounted on an axle carrying chain wheels or

page_text: their equivalents, which communicate the motion of the said axle by chains or their
equivalents to the arbors carrying the hands on the dial, thus imparting to the
said hands a speed of rotation equal to the space through which the figures of the
horses move in each reciprocation.
In order that my invention may be fully understood I will more particularly
describe it making reference to the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 Sheet No. 1 is a view in broken elevation of my apparatus,
Figure 2 Sheet No. 1 is a broken view in transverse section of the dial, and
Figures 3 and 4 Sheet No. 2 are views in front elevation, and plan, respectively
of the clutch driving mechanism.
Throughout these views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
The rocking horses A may be of any of the well-known types, and to any con-
venient moving part such as a. is attached a lever B to which is attached a coupling
or connecting rod C.
In close proximity to the rocking horses-of which there may be any desired
number is a dial D of any suitable size. This dial carries hands or indices d, the
arbors d' of which are connected with axles E-carried in small frames F fixed on
the back of the dial-by means of chain wheels e. and chains e¹. On each axle E
is mounted a pair of ratchet wheels G with which engage pawls H mounted on the
ends of a rocking bar J carried by a rocking shaft J mounted in a suitable
bearing on the frame F. This rocking shaft is operated by a lever K which is
not keyed or otherwise fixed thereto, but communicates motion to it through an
adjustable friction clutch consisting of a disc j fixed to the shaft J' of a disc k.
fixed to the lever K, of a leather washer L interposed between the two discs or
fixed to one of them, and of a spring acting between a washer j² and nut j³ on the
end of the shaft J' and the disc k. The end of the lever K is connected to the
coupling or connecting rod C which thus completes the connection between
the horses and the hands on the dial.
I do not limit myself to the use of any particular type of rocking horses, those
illustrated in the accompanying drawing being shown simply for the purpose of
showing how the motion of the said horses is communicated to the dial.
In Figure 4 Sheet No. 2 the position of the chain wheel e. in one frame is shown
in full lines, and that of the chain wheel in the other frame in dotted lines; there
being one of these clutch devices for each hand on the dial.
I do not limit myself to this particular clutch driving arrangement as many
others may answer the purpose equally well, but that hereinbefore described and
shown in the accompanying drawing gives a steady forward movement to the hands
of the dial,. and also allows the hands to be set back to zero, or the starting point,
without disconnecting any part of the mechanism.
The dial is subdivided into suitable divisions to denote miles or other measurements
of distance.
I sometimes use an extra hand on the dial operated by clockwork, the mechanism
of which is adapted to enable the hand to be set to travel at any given speed round
the dial.
It will be seen that with this apparatus riders can compete or race against one
another.
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:
1st. The improvements in and relating to rocking horses whereby the movement
of the said horses is recorded on a dial, as and for the purpose set forth.
2nd. An exercising apparatus consisting of one or more rocking horses imparting
motion to hands or indices on a dial, as and for the purpose set forth.
3rd. The combination with one or more rocking horses, of a dial carrying one or
more hands preferably rotating about one common centre and each receiving motion
through suitable gearing adapted to convert the reciprocating motion of the rocking

page_text: horses into continuous rotary motion of the hands on the dial, as and for the purpose
set forth.
4th. The adjustable frictional and clutch gearing, constructed, arranged, and
operating specifically as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated
by Figures 3 and 4 Sheet No. 2 of the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 30th day of Avril 1891.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E., ETC.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70-72, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.