An Improvement in Working Ventriloquial Figures.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 25th Apr., 1892-Accepted, 18th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in Working Ventriloquial Figures.
I FREDERIC WILLIAM MILLIS The Mia-Mia 16 Overton Road Brixton
London S.W. Ventriloquist do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
By means of an india rubber tube to one end of which is placed a large india
rubber ball when this ball is pressed air is. forced through the tube. At the other
end of the tube is a bladder or air chamber which is fixed inside a box the top and
sides of which are firm the bottom working by means of hinges. The bottom or
hinged part of box is attached to a cord which causes to move the parts of the
figure required.
The pressing of the ball expells air through the tube into the bladder. This
This action in turn
expands the bladder & forces the hinged part of box to move.
causes the string also to work as desired the hinged part is brought back to its
former position by means of a spring.
Dated this 11th day of December 1891
FREDERIC WILLIAM MILLIS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in Working Ventriloquial Figures.
1, FREDERIC WILLIAM MILLIS 16 Overton Road, Brixton London Ven-
triloquist, 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 the figures used in ventriloquial performances, and has
for its object a convenient and reliable pneumatic arrangement for working them
without necessitating the use of valves.
In carrying out my invention, I provide at suitable parts in the frame forming
the figure, a number of bags or air chambers of indiarubber, each enclosed in a
box, fixed in the frame, the bottom of which is hinged to the end, so that it can
move in a downward direction forming a flap. Each bag communicates through
the back of the box with a tube leading to an india-rubber ball, which, when
pressed forces air into the bag expanding it and opening the flap of the box. To
the end of the flap is attached a hook, onto which is slipped a noose formed in the
end of a cord. The other end of this cord is attached to one of the moving parts
of the figure, such as the mouth or eyes, springs being arranged to bring back the
parts to their original positions immediately the pressure on the balls is taken off.
In actuating the legs, I dispense with separate boxes, and hinge the lower part to
the upper, placing a bag between the ends, so that, on the bag being expanded, it
will force the ends apart and cause the lower part of the leg to be raised, the weight
bringing it back, immediately the ball is released.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a vertical section and Figure 2 a plan of a ventriloquial figure to
which my improvements are applied, Figs. 3, 4 and 5, are detail views respectively
of an arm, leg, and one of the indiarubber balls, and Figures 6' and 7 are vertical
sections of two modifications, Figure 6 consisting of a head mounted on a stand
with screen to hide the mechanism and Figure 7 a head on a wooden block fixed on
the top of a glass tube extending from the floor or stage.

page_text: Referring to Figures 1 to 5, 1 is the head, of any suitable substance, forming a
case for part of the mechanism, and having the movable under lip and jaw 2 from
which extends the rod 3 hinged to the piece forming the back of the neck. From
the rod 3 extends a spring 4 to the top of the head, tending to lift the rod and keep
the mouth closed. To the under side of the hinged rod is attached a cord 5 passing
through the lower part of the head and the top of the frame 6 and over a pulley to
a hook 7 on the end of a flap 8 hinged to the box 9 within which an air bag 10 is
situated, communicating through the tube 11 with the ball 12. The eyes 13 revolve
on a pin arranged centrally so that they can move in a vertical direction, the
spring 4 being situated around the pin. A small arm 14 projects from the back to
which the cord 5 is attached being actuated in the manner above described.
The head is mounted on a vertical shaft 15 extending through the top of the
frame, so that the head can turn laterally a short distance. In order to turn the
head when desired, I provide an arm 16 from the end of which the cord passes
at an angle to its hook, the shaft and head turning when the cord is pulled.
In
The arm (Figure 3) is composed mainly of two parts, the upper one 17 being
supported by a shaft passing through the frame, and having an arm 18, the con-
necting cord being shown attached to the same book as the cord for the eyes.
order that the arm when raised shall not be lifted in a rigid manner, the piece 19
forming the fore arm and hand, is pivotted to 17, and has a spring 20 to partially
counterbalance its weight and a cord 21 passing over a pulley and attached to the
frame behind the shaft, so that when the cord 5 is pulled and the arm is lifted, the
cord 21 will be in tension and will pull the forearm up, causing the hand to point
upwards.
The leg (Figure 4) consists of two parts, one, 22 being stationary and the other 23
hinged to it the bag 10 being placed between.
In this arrangement the right arm and leg are movable, the left being stationary.
Referring to Figure 6 the whole head is moved at each action of the eyes and
mouth, the bag 10 being situated between the block 24 fixed to the screen 25 and
the hinged piece 26 to which the head is fixed. The cord 5 leading to the mouth
passes over a pulley at the lower part of the block 24 to the end of the piece 26,
the cord connected to the eye being simply attached to 24. With this arrange-
ment, when the bag is inflated the head will be raised turning on the hinge at the
back and the mouth will open and eyes turn up at the same time.
In Figure 7 the head is apparently simply fixed upon a glass rod, and no
mechanism can be seen, the hole required being placed in the neck, the bag and
box and connections being of the same description as in the former figures.
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) An improved means for working ventriloquial figures, comprising an india-
rubber ball, an air bag connected to the ball by a tube, inflated by pressing the
ball and collapsed by means of a spring, the air returning to the ball, and means
for transmitting the motion to the various parts of the figure, substantially as
described.
(2) The combination with a ball; a collapsible bag and connecting tube of a box
having the top or bottom hinged and containing the collapsible bag, a cord or cords
connected to the movable part of the box, and to one or more of the movable parts
of the figures, and a spring for closing the box and forcing the air from the bag
when the ball is released, substantially as described and shown and for the purposes
specified.
1 1
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.