An Improved Climbing Race Game, and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Apr., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Jan., 1896-Accepted, 22nd Feb., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Climbing Race Game, and Apparatus therefor.
1, GEORGE DE MELVEN of 34 Rodney Street, Pentonville, in the County of
London, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to race games, in which two or more toy men, monkeys, or
other figures are caused to ascend poles, the first to reach the top being the winner.
It consists of such an arrangement of parts that each person engaging in the game
can by turning one of a number of handles, operate a train of mechanism which
causes the toy man, monkey, or other figure to ascend its pole. Each handle is
(when not connected to its train of mechanism either by the dropping in of a coin,
or by the act of an attendant), free to rotate with its spindle without movement of
the train or toy figure. But when two or more of the handles are connected, each
to its own train of mechanism, by the insertion into slits of suitable coins, or by
the attendant throwing them into gear, the rotation of the handles causes the
figures to ascend until one of them reaching the top of its pole disconnects the
mechanism from the handles.
I in general use a table or stand underneath the top of which are arranged
the trains of mechanism and the spindles to which the handles are attached. Any
required number of these spindles are arranged to project from the front, back, or
sides of the table or stand, and each has a handle attached to it, which can be
operated by one of the persons taking part in the game. From the upper surface
of the table project any suitable number (say six) of vertical poles, which have
toy figures attached one to each of the poles. The poles consist of tubes slit or
divided longitudinally on one side, and inside each is arranged a cord ascending on
one side and descending on the other. This cord runs over a small pulley disposed
inside the tube at or near its upper end. A clip or wire which forms part of the
figure passes through the slit in the tube and is fixed to the cord so that when the
train of mechanism is actuated, the cord is moved and carries with it the toy man,
monkey, or other figure. The mechanism is so arranged that the ascent of the
figure takes place intermittently or in jerks, and when it reaches the top of the pole
it actuates a catch which disconnects the train of mechanism from the handle and
allows the figure to drop back to the foot of the pole.
If an attendant is in charge of the apparatus, he takes the money from each of
the players, and then operates the mechanism which connects handles (equal in
number to the players) with their trains of mechanism; but where no attendant is
employed, slits are made in the case into which each player inserts a coin which
effects the same purpose.
In general a small flag is suspended from the top of each pole, and the figure
first reaching the top of the pole causes this to drop to the ground.
Dated this 2nd day of April 1895.
WILLIAM J. MUNDEN,
106 Priory Park Road, Kilburn, N.W., Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: An Improved Climbing Race Game, and Apparatus therefor.
I, GEORGE DE MELVEN of 34 Rodney Street, Pentonville, in the County of
London, Engineer, 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 :-
in
This invention relates to race games, in which two or more toy men, monkeys,
or other figures are caused to ascend poles the first to reach the top being the
winner. It consists of such an arrangement of parts that each person engaging
the game can, by turning one of a number of handles, operate a chain of mechanism,
which causes the toy man, monkey, or other figure to ascend its pole. Each
handle is (when not connected to its chain of mechanism either by the dropping in
of a coin, or by the act of an attendant), free to rotate with its spindle without
movement of the train or toy figure. But when two or more of the handles are
connected each to its own train of mechanism, by the insertion into slits of suitable
coins or by the attendant throwing them into gear, the rotation of the handles
causes the figures to ascend until one of them reaches the top of its pole and
disconnects the mechanism from the handles.
I in general use a table or stand underneath, on the top of which is arranged
the trains of mechanism and the spindles to which the handles are attached. Any
required number of these spindles are arranged to project from the front, back, or
sides of the table or stand, and each has a handle attached to it which can be
operated by one of the persons taking part in the game. From the upper surface
of the table project any suitable number (say six) of vertical poles, which have toy
figures attached one to each of the poles. The poles consist of tubes slit or divided
longitudinally on one side, and inside each is arranged a cord ascending on one side
and descending on the other. This cord runs over a small pulley disposed inside
the tube at or near its upper end. A clip or wire which forms part of the figure
passes through the slit in the tube and is fixed to the cord so that when the train
of mechanism is actuated the cord is moved and carries with it the toy man,
monkey, or other figure. The mechanism is so arranged that the ascent of the
figure takes place intermittently or in jerks and when it reaches the top of the ple
actuates a catch which disconnects the train of mechanism from the handle and
allows the figure to drop back to the foot of the pole.
If an attendant is in charge of the apparatus he takes the money from each of
the players, and then operates the mechanism which connects handles (equal in
number to the players) with their trains of mechanism, but where uo attendant is
employed, slits are made in the case into which each player inserts a coin which
effects the same purpose. In either case the figure is entirely under the control of
the person operating the handle.
In general a small flag is suspended from the top of each pole, and the figure
first reaching the top of the pole causes this to drop to the ground.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Fig 1 is a perspective view of the exterior of the case of an apparatus according
to my invention.
Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of such a case taken through the axis of
one of the poles.
Fig. 3 is a horizontal section of one of the poles.
Fig. 4 is an elevation of the mechanism for operating one of the climbing
figures.
Fig. 5 is an edge view of the winding barrel.
A box or case A is supported either by legs a as shewn, or by a table, bench, or
independent stand, or it may be attached to a vertical surface of any kind. From

page_text: its upper surface project two or more fixed poles B each having a longitudinal
slit b through its whole length, and a knob b¹ or equivalent at its upper end. Each
pole has attached to it in such manner as to be free to slide up and down a toy
figure 6 of any description, preferably a miniature "climbing sailor," and also a
loose collar to which is fixed a flag or other trophy. Projecting from holes in
the front of the case are two or more spindles c each having a crank handle C, the
number being equal to that of the poles and figures, and at any convenient part of
the case are slits c¹ for the insertion of the coin which permits the operation of the
figure. In some cases where an attendant is employed, the slits are dispensed with,
and catches used which answer the same purpose of connecting the mechanism in
such manner that the turning of a handle operates a figure.
Each pole and "climbing sailor" has a separate train of mechanism for operating
the figure, and as these trains are exactly similar to each other I propose to
describe one only.
In Fig. 2 the pole B is shewn as having the slit & situate at the back of the pole
and consequently out of the view of the operators in the front of the case, but it
it will be understood that the slit can be arranged as presented to the front or
side of the case.
Inside the pole at or near its upper end is placed a small grooved
pulley d revoluble upon a pin d, and over this pulley runs the cord D that supports
the figure, the one being attached to the other by a wire which projects out
through the slit b. The cord D runs downwards into the case, and passes over a
guide pulley E situate at the foot of the pole, and over a secondl guide pulley F
which is fixed near the front of the case and in a position which normally ensures
the cord when wound up remaining upon the winding barrel G. It will thus be
seen that the rotation of the winding barrel G in one direction by pulling upon the
cord D raises the end of the cord and its attached wire d with the "climbing
sailor." The loose collar (to which is attached the flag *) has an eye 6 into
which a catch h normally hooks and prevents the collar and flag from sliding down
the pole. The catch his pivoted to the pole at h' and has a projecting arm with a
weight H attached to it in such a manner that when the catch has not to support
the weight of the collar and flag, the weight falls and the catch assumes the position
shewn in dotted lines in Fig. 2; but when the weight of the collar and flag is
borne by the catch its point cannot be liberated from the eye 6. The catch being
in the position shewn in full lines in Fig. 2 upon the wire which is attached to the
climbing sailor" reaching high enough to lift the collar the weight falls and
leaves the collar and flag supported by the cord D and wire d. As soon as the
cord D is released as bereinafter described and the "climbing sailor" falls, the
collar and flag fall together with it, thus making it appear as if the sailor had
climbed the pole and brought down the flag.
6
In Fig. 4 is shewn the mechanism by means of which the figure is caused to
ascend the pole, and afterwards with the flag allowed to descend from it. Upon
that part of the spindle c (before referred to as projecting from the front of
the case A) which is inside the case, is a toothed pinion K and this is revoluble by
means of the cranked handle C. Gearing with the pinion is a toothed wheel L
which is revoluble upon a pin or stud 1. To the side of the wheel L is fixed in
such manner as to rotate with it a disc which has a crank pin rotating in a
circular path the diameter of which is equal to the reciprocating movement of a
sliding catch N. This sliding catch N reciprocates in a guide n, and is connected
to the crank pin by means of a connecting rod M which is jointed at m by a pin
When
to the end of the sliding catch N, and at its other end to the crank pin 1.
the figure is being operated the point of the catch N is held in close contact
with the periphery of a ratchet ring 9, by means of the pressure of a light
spring n; the ratchet ring 9 being either formed integrally with or fixed rigidly
to the winding barrel G herein before referred to upon which the cord D is
normally wound. It is thus obvious that upon the crank handle being turned in
either direction the pinion K will rotate the wheel L, discs l', and crank pin ²
thus producing alternately a thrust and pull of the sliding catch N, which in the

page_text: ordinary manner, by aid of the light spring n' produces an intermittent rotation of
the ratchet ring g and its attached winding barrel G, one tooth of the ratchet
ring being pushed forward by each movement of the catch N in the same
direction.
The winding barrel G as shown in Figs. 2 and 5 bas a part cut away from it
forming a gap g', this gap being (when the "climbing sailor" is at the bottom of
the pole) always at the point nearest the guide pulley F, this latter being so
arranged relatively to the winding barrel that normally the cord D is wound upon
the barrel and the figure caused to ascend, but when the gap reaches the point
nearest the guide pulley F the whole of the cord D slips off and the figure drops to
the bottom of the pole.
The guide n may be lifted or depressed by any convenient means, either by an
attendant, or by any automatic device by means of which the dropping of a coin
into a slit brings the point n' into contact with the ratchet teeth, and the subsequent
dropping of the coin upon completion of the race raises the guide n and the catch N
high enough to enable the catch N to reciprocate without engaging the ratchet
ring gas shewn in dotted lines.
46
The operation is as follows:-
If the handle C.is turned, while the catch N is in the position shewn in dotted
lines, it simply causes the pinion K and the wheel L to rotate, and the catch N to
reciprocate without moving the ratchet ring and winding barrel. But when, either
by an attendant, or by a coin being placed in a slit, the catch N is depressed to the
position shewn in full lines, the reciprocation of the catch N produces an inter-
mittent rotation of the winding barrel. When starting the figure is. at the bottom
of the pole and the end of the cord which passes through a hole g in the winding
barrel and is fastened thereto begins to be wound upon the barrel and causes the
climbing sailor" to ascend the pole by jerks. The circumference of the winding
barrel is approximately equal to the height of the pole, and when the rotation of
the handle C has continued long enough for the figure to reach near the top, the
wire d comes into contact with the collar b³, and allows the weight H to disengage
the catch from the eye , thus leaving the collar 63 and flag 64 supported by the
cord D. An instant later the notch or gap g' in the winding barrel comes into
such a position with relation to the guide pulley F that the cord D slips off the
barrel and allows the "climbing sailor" as well as the collar and flag to fall to
the bottom of the pole; this fall causing the cord to assume such a position as to be
ready for a second operation.
In some cases I attach a cam or projection to the hub of the winding barrel, and
cause to move a lever and gearing whereby the number of ascents is registered on
a dial or other indicator.
By arranging two or more of such mechanisms in one case with an equal number
of handles for operating the same, two or more persons can by turning the handles
as quickly as possible engage in a race, the winner being the one operating the
figure which first reaches and causes the descent of the flag or other trophy.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A race game in which two or more climbing figures are caused by turning
handles to ascend poles and cause the fall of a flag or flags, such figures being
actuated by mechanism substantially as shewn and described.
2. For use in climbing race games, an apparatus consisting essentially of a box
or case having two or more poles fixed to and projecting upwards from it, up each
of which poles a figure is caused to ascend and liberate a flag, and mechanism for
operating the same by means of cranked handles, substantially as shewn and
described..
3. For use in climbing race games a train of mechanism for operating each
figure consisting essentially of a handle by the turning of which a wheel, or pinion

page_text: and wheel are rotated, a crank pin the rotation of which produces a reciprocating
movement of a catch, a winding barrel which has ratchet teeth and is interinittently
rotated by the movement of the catch, a cord which is so arranged and attached to
the figure that it pulls it to the top of a pole when the winding barrel is rotated,.
and is so attached to the winding barrel with relation to a notch or gap in the
barrel that it drops off when the figure has reached the top, and a collar and flag
which are normally supported by a catch, but which when the figure reaches it
releases the catch and leaves it supported only by the cord, substantially as shewn
and described.
4. For use in climbing race games, the combination of the handle C, the
pinion K, the wheel L, the crank and pin, the connecting rod M, the sliding
catch N with guide n and spring n', the winding barrel G with ratchet teeth
gap or notch g, the cord D, the guide pulleys F and E, the pole B, the pulley d..
the collar 6, the catch h and weight H, all constructed and operating together-
substantially in the manner and for the purpose described and shewn.
Dated this 1st day of January 1896.
9 and
WILLIAM J. MUNDEN,
106 Priory Park Road, Kilburn, London, N.W.,..
Agent for the Applicant.