Year: 1899

page_text: I, FERNAND MARTIN, of 90, Boulevard de Ménilmontant, Paris, France, Toy
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
This invention relates to a mechanical toy generally in the form of a human
figure in which the upper part of the figure or subject receives an oscillatory
movement upon a vertical axis under the control of a pendulum or balance
beam constituted either by a special construction of the figure or subject or by
an adjunct which may be in the nature of a tool or implement held in the hands
of the figure. The momentum of the moving part has for effect to impart to
the figure or subject a series of consecutive angular displacements whereby it
is caused to advance alternately upon the right and left feet or points of support.
The mechanical toy thus receives a double movement, viz:-
-:
(1) An oscillatory movement of the upper part of the figure upon a vertical
axis carried by the lower part;
(2) A movement of translation resulting from a series of consecutive angular
displacements of the figure upon its points of support, this movement being pro-
duced by a slight forward preponderance of the pendulum or balance which tends
to cause the figure to move forwards.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this
specification wherein Figure 1 represents an elevation and Figure 2 a section
of the mechanical toy. Figure 3 shews the mechanism separately. Figure 4
shews in plan the series of steps or displacements made by the figure.
letters of reference denote like parts in all the figures.
The same
The body a of the figure contains a spring barrel b which is wound up by a
key c, the said spring barrel setting in motion through a pinion d, a scape
wheel e which actuates pallets f¹ carried by the vertical rod f oscillating on an
axis g.
The rod f is forked as at h h to form branches which extend down to the
feet of the figure. The body of the figure swivels alternately to right and left
upon the rod f carrying with it, for instance, a scythe j forming the balance or
pendulum; or the arms may be extended sufficiently to answer the same purpose.
By means of this oscillatory movement of the upper part of the figure upon a
vertical axis, the figure is caused to advance first the one foot and then the
other as in reaping, as indicated by the several successive positions of the feet
in Figure 4.
It is to be understood that any other figure operating any other appliance
may be substituted for the one shewn.
In this improved mechanical toy, the mass set in motion, that is to say the
upper part of the body in oscillating upon a vertical axis, imparts at the end of
each stroke, an angular displacement to the figure alternately on each of the
feet, which angular movements will always be in the same direction as that of
the momentum of the mass in movement produced, and consequently the whole
of the momentum will be utilized for producing said angular displacements so

page_text: that the figure will be advanced on its legs without any shock and the movements
will be of appreciable amplitude.
Dated this 10th day of June 1899.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.
An Improved Mechanical Toy.
I, FERNAND MARTIN, of 90, Boulevard de Menilmontant, Paris, France, Toy
Manufacturer, 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 a mechanical toy, generally in the form of a human
figure, in which the upper part of the figure or subject receives an oscillatory
movement upon a vertical axis under the control of a pendulum or balance
beam constituted either by a special construction of the figure or subject, or by
an adjunct which may be in the nature of a tool or implement held in the hands
of the figure.
The momentum of the moving part has for effect to impart to the figure or
subject a series of consecutive angular displacements whereby it is caused to
advance alternately upon the right and left feet or points of support. The
mechanical toy thus receives a double movement, viz.:-
(1) An oscillatory movement of the upper part of the figure upon a vertical
axis carried by the lower part;
(2) A movement of translation resulting from a series of consecutive angular
movements of the figure upon its points of support, this movement of translation
being produced by a slight forward preponderance of the pendulum or balance
which tends to cause the figure to move forwards.
Reference is to be had to the drawings accompanying my Provisional Specifica-
tion, wherein Figure 1 represents an elevation and Figure 2 a section of the
mechanical toy. Figure 3 shews the mechanism separately. Figure 4 shews in
plan the series of steps or progressive movements made by the figure. The same
letters of reference denote like parts in all the figures.
The body a of the figure contains a spring barrel b which may be wound up by
a key c, the said spring barrel setting in motion through a pinion d, a scape
wheel e which actuates pallets f¹ carried by the vertical rod f oscillating on an
axis g. The rod f is forked as at h h to form branches which extend down the
legs to the feet i of the figure. The body of the figure swivels alternately to right
and left upon the rod f carrying with it for example, a scythe ; forming the
balance or pendulum; or the arms may be extended sufficiently to answer the
same purpose. By means of this oscillatory movement of the upper part of the
figure upon a vertical axis, the figure is caused to advance first the one foot and
then the other as in reaping, as indicated by the several successive positions of
the feet in Figure 4.
It is to be understood that any other figure operating any other appliance
may be substituted for the one shewn.
In this improved mechanical toy, the mass set in motion (that is to say the
upper part of the body) in oscillating upon a vertical axis, imparts at the end
of each stroke an angular displacement to the figure alternately on each of the
feet, which angular movements will always be in the same direction as that of

page_text: the momentum of the mass by which the movement is produced, and conse-
quently the whole of the momentum will be utilized for producing such angular
movements so that the figure will be advanced on its legs without any shock and
the movements will be of appreciable amplitude.
The action of this mechanical toy thus differs entirely from that of other
similar toys such for example as the mechanical toy in which the moving part
is provided with a balance weight and has an oscillatory motion upon a horizontal
axis, the weight being caused at the end of each stroke to strike the metallic
skirt of the figure whereby the latter is raised alternately upon each foot. In
such toy the series of shocks which brings about the progression of the figure
cannot cause angular progressive movements of the figure of appreciable ampli-
tude as in my toy and hence the mode of progression has no analogy to that of
the toy of this invention.
It is to be understood that the forms, details accessories and dimensions of my
mechanical toy may be varied without in any way departing from the principle
of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
A mechanical toy in which the upper part of the figure is caused by a spring
motor to oscillate about a vertical axis so as together with a suitable adjunct
to constitute in effect a pendulum or balance which by its momentum will cause
the feet and legs of the figure to advance alternately in imitation, for example,
of the movements of a reaper, substantially as described and illustrated in the
drawings.
D
1 1
1
r
1 1000
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.