A New or Improved Toy.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Dec., 1899-Accepted, 1st Dec., 1900
A New or Improved Toy.
I, ADOLF WEIGEL, of Rosenthalstrasse, Nuremberg, in the Empire of Germany,.
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 toy in the form of a hopping figure of human
shape.
For effecting the hopping movement there is placed in the upper part of the
body of the figure a clockwork device, by the action of which the lower part of
the body (especially the legs) is drawn backwards after having been moved for-
ward by the weight of the upper part of the body.
For this purpose it is important that the upper part of the body should be
provided with a support which is independent of the lower part. In the arrange-
ment shewn in Figure 1 this support is formed by the tail of the frock coat. In
the arrangement shewn in Figure 2 a sword forms a supporting point, and in
Figure 3 a broom serves that purpose.
The outer shape or form of the figure of the toy is immaterial; but it is
important that the upper part of the body should be provided with an extension
and that the feet should be rounded and extended as shewn so as to present
the shape of a bird's beak.
When the clockwork is wound up and the figure placed upon a flat surface
the figure is supported alternately on the feet hand on the extension g of the
upper part of the body, whereby a hopping movement is produced.
Figures 4 and 5 illustrate in vertical and horizontal sections respectively the
clock-work mechanism secured to the upper part c of the body of the figure. a
is a clock-spring which may be wound up by means of the handle k. is a
toothed wheel mounted loosely on the arbour which also has fixed thereon the
star-wheel i the teeth of which engage with a detent projecting from the toothed-
wheel as shewn and by which the said wheel is driven when the spring a
is wound up. The rotation of the wheel / causes the pinion m and crank b to
rotate. This crank b is connected by means of the wire n and cross-bar o with
the two crank-arms f mounted on the axis e, which latter turns loosely in bear-
ings q on the upper part of the figure and to which the legs d of the figure are
firmly secured. The action of the crank band spring pupon the crank-arms f
has the tendency to move the supporting point of the upper part of the body
towards the supporting points of the lower part or legs of the figure.
After the toy has been wound-up and placed upon a table, for example, the
distance between the supporting point hand g is increased by the action of the
weight of the body and the crank is consequently rotated so far that one tooth
of the star-wheel 2 is released from the detent i¹ and consequently the upper part
of the body suddenly assumes an upright position. The supporting points g
and h quickly approach one another, and the support g abutting on the table,
the figure is caused to jump. This operation continues until the clock-work
has run down.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would have it under-
stood that I am aware that driving mechanism more or less of the kind herein
described has already been employed in connexion with hopping toy figures
of certain animals, but that heretofore, so far as I am aware, such mechanism
has not been applied to toy figures of the human form on account of there being
no support available for the upper part of the body; and that what I claim is :-
First. A hopping toy figure of the human form having extensions from the
upper part of the body which serve as supports for the same, substantially as
described with reference to the drawings and for the purposes specified.
for
Second. A hopping toy figure of the human form having extensions from the
upper part of the body for supporting the same and extensions of the feet
supporting the lower part of the body, substantially as described with reference
to the drawings and for the purposes specified.
Third. A hopping toy figure of the human form combined and operating sub-
stantially as described with reference to the drawings.
Dated this and love of Danamitin 1900
A. WEIGEL.
Per W. H. Beck,
Agent, 115, Cannon Street, London, E.C.
Agent.