AN IMPROVED Toy
Year: 1884

page_text: I, WILLIAM MAXWELL CAMPBELL, of the Junior United Service Club, Charles
Street, in the County of Middlesex, Colonel in the Royal Engineers, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED Toy" to be as
follows:-
My Invention relates to a novel device suitable for a toy, and consists of one,
two, or more helical bodies formed of any suitable material, in the shape of a
twisted serpent, and rendered conspicuous by any suitable vivid colouring, mounted
on a frame or other supporting device as described below.
The special peculiarity of these imitation serpents is that their convolutions
form a uniform helix or screw thread, and further they are made of material of
considerable density such as metal, their movement depending upon their weight.
I mount these imitation serpents upon a pole, lath, or bar, or plate, of any shape
and of any material, perforated with holes so that the weight of the imitation
serpents causes them to spirally descend the pole or other form of support by
their convolutions, so as to pass in and out of the holes pierced in the lath or
bur, at such intervals as correspond with the pitch of the spiral of the imitation
serpents. Where such holes are used, they are carried through the lath or bar
at an angle corresponding to the pitch of the said spirals.
One convenient form of my improved toy is in the shape of a broad bladed sword
of any suitable material, a series of holes being pierced through the sword along.
each edge. Two spiral imitation serpents of the same pitch as that of the holes
are fitted one on each edge of the sword, so that by their gravity they descend
down the edges of the sword by convolutions round their axis, and thus by passing
in and out of the holes pierced along the edges of the sword. By reversing the
sword, the serpents may be caused to return again in a similar manner to the other
end of the sword.
It is obvious that many modifications are possible in the form and material of
the pole, bar, plate, or sword through or around which the imitation serpents
revolve, as also in the material of which the serpents are made, without departing
from the principle of my Invention as hereinbefore described. For instance, where
a cylindrical bar or pole is used, the helical serpent may be caused to descend the
bar by convolutions round the bar in a spiral groove of the same pitch as that of
the body of the serpent.
FELL & WILDING,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I WILLIAM MAXWELL CAMPBELL of the Junior United Service Club, Charles
Street, in the County of Middlesex, Colonel in the Royal Engineers do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED TOY" and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed and to the letters and Figures marked thereon, that is to say :—
My Invention relates.to a novel device suitable for a toy and consists of one two
or more helical bodies formed of any suitable material in the shape of a twisted
serpent, rendered conspicuous by any suitable vivid colour or pattern of coloring,
mounted in a frame or other supporting device as described below.
The special peculiarity of these serpents is that their convolutions from a helix or
screw thread and further they are made of any material (metal or other) of such
density as will afford a suitable rate of movement, which rate will depend upon
their weight.
In order that my Invention may be the better understood, I now proceed to
describe the same, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to
the letters and Figures marked thereon.
As will be seen from all the Figures thereon, the common feature in my various
devices is, that I mount the imitation serpent or serpents upon a pole, lath, bar, or
structure, either perforated with holes or provided with convenient apertures, or
with a helical grooved path, so that the weight of the imitation serpents causes
them to spirally descend the pole, bar, or lath, or other form of support, and by
their convolutions to pass in and out of the holes or apertures pierced in the lath,
or other support, at such intervals as correspond with the pitch of the spiral of the
imitation serpent or to revolve in a helical path made to a similar pitch to that of
the imitation serpent. Where holes are used, they are carried through the lath or
bar at an angle corresponding to the pitch of the said spirals.
One convenient form of my improved toy is in the shape of a broad bladed sword
of any suitable material, a series of holes being pierced through the sword either a
single row along each edge, or a double row through the body of the sword.
In Figure 1 two imitation snakes A A are shown of similar pitch and similar
direction of helix; each snake passing through a series of holes and embracing the
edge of the sword S.
In Figure 2 the two snakes A A are shown of different pitch and reversed
direction of helix.
In Figure 3 the imitation snake A passes in and out of a double series of holes
perforated through the centre of the blade of the sword S.
Figure 4 shews a triple set of snakes A A A one embracing each edge and
passing through a set of perforated holes, and a third passing through two sets of
perforations in the middle.
In Figure 5 the imitation snakė A revolves round a cylindrical core S cut to the
same pitch as the snake.
Figure 6 shews such a core constructed of bars S S with snakes A A revolving
both outside and inside the said core with reversed directions of helix. It may be
convenient to make this mounting a support of glass.
Figure 7 shows a snake family, the large snake A revolving round the exterior
of the support S and the two small snakes A¹ A¹ revolving through suitable
apertures in the support and within the larger snake.
Figure 8 shows a snake A revolving in and out of the rungs of a ladder S,

page_text: Figure 9 shows a pair of ladders S S combined on the lazy tong principle,
whereby the velocity of descent of the two snakes A A may be varied according to
the angle of the ladders.
Figure 10 is a sectional detail of a hollow bodied imitation snake A within
which the ball L preferably of metal is inserted so as to rattle as the snake
descends.
Figure 11 shows a spirally twisted stick S provided with a handle, such as a
walking stick, the stick being twisted to the same pitch as that of the imitation
snake A wound round it, which latter by its gravity descends in spiral convolutions
to the lower end of the stick.
Figure 12 shews examples of a triangular and square, frame S. S. round the
peripheries of which suitable holes are pierced to allow of the convolutions of a
series of helical imitation snakes A A as hereinbefore described.
Figure 13 shews a wheel B, mounted on a suitable handle C, and provided with
a series of radial spokes D D of different form, that is, embodying a series of the
foregoing described supports, around each of which a snake or snakes A will
revolve, as each spoke becomes inclined at a sufficiently vertical position in the
course of the revolution of the wheel.
Figure 14 shows in detail the head of an imitation snake in which the upper
jaw E is made moveable on a pivot F and is caused to open when passing through
the perforations of the support by the edge of the perforation striking the pro-
jecting face of the cam G, formed in the same piece with the upper jaw. If the
pivot F offers just sufficient resistance to maintain the jaw in position, either open
or shut, the jaw will be alternately opened and shut by the cam being struck, first
by the upper edge and then by the lower edge of the hole. This will continue
alternately as the snake descends in its path.
Figure 15 shows a detail in which a moveable tongue H may be fitted in the
jaw of the snake upon a pivot and caused to move horizontally across the mouth,
backwards and forwards, by the edges of the cam picce K striking alternately the
sides of the apertures through which the snake is revolving.
It is obvious that many modifications are possible in the form and material of
the pole, bar or sword, through or around which the imitation serpents revolve, as
also in the material of which the serpents are made, without departing from the
principle of my Invention as herein before described.
The snakes may also if desired be cast or twisted when plastic in position that
is embracing the series of holes through which they are about to travel.-In this
case if the holes are discontinued near to the ends of the support the snake
cannot escape from the series of holes and thus form a puzzle as to how it ever
got there. Alternatively, the snake after construction may be inserted into the
series of holes from one end and the egress may be closed by the addition of a
handle or other part to the support.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to he performed, I declare that what
Talaimin.
1st The combination of one or more uniformly belical imitation snakes A A with
a support of any desired shape S perforated with holes of a similar pitch to that of
the helix of the snakes, to form a toy, substantially as described in reference to
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 7.
2nd The combination of one or more uniformly helical imitation snakes A A, with
a hollow or solid cylindrical support S provided with a helically grooved path
corresponding to the helix of the snakes, to form a toy, substantially as described
in reference to Figures 5, 6 and 11.
3rd The combination of one or more uniformly helical imitation smakes A, with
a support or supports S in the form of a ladder, the rungs being spaced to

page_text: correspond to the pitch of the helix of the snakes, substantially as described in
reference to Figures 8 and 9.
4th The combination of one or more uniformly helical imitation snakes A, with
one or more of the above claimed supports S combined in the form of a geometrical
figure, or mounted as the spokes of a revolving wheel B, to form a toy, substantially
as described in reference to Figures 12 and 13.
5th In such uniformly helical imitation snakes, when combined with perforated,
or rünged supports, the construction of the jaw and tongue of the said snake in a
manner so as to be automatically moved by the passage of the snakes down the
said supports substantially as described in reference to Figures 14 and 15.