An Improved Automatic Toy.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 8th Nov., 1889-Accepted, 18th Jan., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by LI HUNG SING, of Shanghai, in the Empire of
China.]
An Improved Automatic Toy.
I, HENRY HARINGTON LEIGH, Fel. Inst. P.A., Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., practising as
Phillips & Leigh, of No. 22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved automatic tumbling toy.
In carrying it into effect, I provide an inclined surface, preferably grooved. This
incline may be pivotted so that it can be readily reversed.
A hollow cylinder closed at its ends, which are preferably flat planes, is provided
with a loose internal weight, preferably one adapted to roll easily.
This cylinder is made of any light material, and its external contour may receive
any shape, either human, animal, or grotosque, best calculated to increase its powers
of amusing.
The operation of my invention is as follows.
The cylinder is placed at one end of the incline, and the ball caused to roll forward
within the cylinder. As soon as it rolls against the end of the cylinder, the latter
begins to tumble, and continues to tumble as long as the ball continues to roll.
A hollow polygon may be used instead of a cylinder.
Dated this 8th day of February 1980
HENRY H. LEIGH.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Automatic Toy.
I HENRY HARINGTON LEIGH Fel. Inst. P.A. Assoc. Mem. Inst. C.E., practising
as Phillips & Leigh of No. 22 Southampton Buildings Chancery Lane in the
County of Middlesex, Engineer and Patent Agent 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 :-
This invention relates to an improved automatic tumbling toy.
In carrying it into effect, I provide an inclined surface, preferably grooved. This
incline may be pivotted so that it can be readily reversed.
A hollow cylinder, closed at its ends which are preferably flat planes, is provided
with a loose internal weight, preferably one adapted to roll.
This cylinder is made of any light material, and its external contour may receive
any shape, either human, animal, or grotesque, best calculated to increase its powers of
amusing.
The operation of my invention is as follows:-
The cylinder is placed at one end of the incline, and the ball caused to roll forward
within the cylinder. As soon as it rolls against the end of the cylinder, the latter
begins to tumble, and continues to tumble as long as the ball continues to roll.
A hollow polygon may be nsed instead of a cylinder.
The accompanying figures illustrate my invention, and are to be taken as part of
this specification and read therewith.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view shewing the groove made out of a bamboo cane.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view shewing the groove made out of a piece of wood semi-
circular in cross-section.

page_text: Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation of Fig. 1 taken through the nxis of the
cylinder.
A is the inclined surface, shewn as grooved. The cross section of this portion of
the toy may be varied, but I profer the one illustrated as being the least costly and at
the same time as officient as any.
When the groove is minde out of bamboo, the ends are cut through, or at, the joints,
so that these furnish the stop-ends a. Tabs, a', may be left, by which the groove can
be hekl.
The intermediate joints are cut away from the groove, as shown at b. I do not
confine myself to the material of the groove, as it may he made of any one that is
suitable. instance the use of bamboo because of its cheapness and the facility with
which it can be adapted to the purpose of my invention.
Figs. 1 and 2 show the groove in its simplest forms. It may he pivotted on suitable
centres, if preferred; and any mechanical device adapted to effect its reversal may be
added. Moreover, instead of being rectilinear as shown, it may be circular in plan.
C is the hollow cylinder; and c, c', its ends. The cylinder may be of any cross
section and its ends fat, or slightly concave as illustrated. The cylinder may be
replaced by a hollow disc or polygon. I prefer that the cylinder be of any other
shape than a hollow disc, so that an intermittent or jerky motion may be produced.
Dis the loose internal weight. It is shewn as of spherical shape but it may be a
solid of any shape capable of rolling.
My invention is used as follows:-
The cylinder is laid in the groove at one end thereof, either on one of its ends
or on its side. The groove is then inclined, so as to raise the end where the
cylinder is. The weight begins to roll, and if the cylinder be standing on its end c;
it will be laid down in the groove in the position illustrated by the full lines of
Fig. 2. The weight continues to roll and strikes against the end with force
enough to raise the cylinder and turn it over on to its opposito side. As it falls
on its said opposite side, the rolling weight strikes against the end e again with
the same effect as before, and so on until the cylinder reaches the lower end of
the inclined groove with the weight at the lower end of the cylinder. The dotted
lines of Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate several of the various positions of the tumbling
cylinder. The cylinder will begin to tumble down the incline irrespectively of its
initial position in the groove.
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 :-
In a toy, the combination of groove, hollow cylinder or polygon adapted to tumble
along the said groove, and loose internal weight adapted to roll along the lower face
of the said cylinder or polygon when tho groove is inclined; as and for the purpose
set forth.
Daied this 8th day of November 1980
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.