A New or Improved Toy.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 12th June, 1893-Accepted, 15th July, 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Toy.
I WILLIAM SHARPE WILSON, M.A., Tutor, Old Deer, Aberdeen Scotland, do
hereby declare the nature of my said invention for "A NEW OR IMPROVED TOY"
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 new or improved toy consisting of a figure or puppet
enclosed within a glass tube containing water. The figure is preferably in the form
of a man suspended from a parachute, and upon reaching the bottom of the glass
tube opens a valve which admits air under the parachute causing the figure to rise
through the water. Upon reaching the end of its ascent the figure is tilted
sideways so that the air escapes from under the parachute. The figure then
descends by gravity and the operation is repeated, the figure alternately ascending
and descending. The accompanying drawings illustrate in what manner this
invention may be carried into effect.
Figure 1 is an elevation of the toy.
Figure 2 represents it in vertical section.
The apparatus consists essentially of three parts a lower vessel or container a,
an intermediate glass tube b and an upper vessel or container c. The lower and
upper vessels are hermetically secured to the glass tube.
The top of the lower vessel a is a plate or partition d furnished with two
openings e and f. The opening e effects communication between the tube b and the
vessel a;
the hole opens into a chamber or box y in the wall of which a hole is
formed. Upon the plate d is pivoted au angle lever one arm of which k carries a
valve which by means of a counterweight m is pressed against and closes the
opening of the chamber 9. A ring o is secured to the chamber g and rests upon
projections formed in the tube b.
In the upper container c is fixed an indiarubber covered wire p the end of which q
projects within the glass tube.
In the construction of the apparatus the upper container and the glass tube are
first secured together an air tight joint being made by a waterproof cement or
other suitable means. The figure or puppet is then placed within the tube and the
lower vessel is similarly hermetically joined to the tube b.
Water, preferably filtered or distilled, is then poured into the tube through an
opening in the upper vessel which is afterwards closed.
When the tube is properly filled the lower vessel a contains only air, the tube
and upper vessel c containing water. No water can enter the vessel a through the
opening e until some of the air has escaped.
The operation of the apparatus is as follows-
The puppet or figure A descends by gravity and in its lowest position depresses
the arm of the bell crank lever and comes to rest upon the ring o.
The move-
ment of the bell crank lever opens the valve thus allowing air to escape through
the opening and accumulate under the parachute. The air is forced out by the
weight of water in the tube, and the escaped air is replaced by water. The air
under the parachute causes the figure to rise thus releasing the arm i and allowing
the counterweight m to close the valve and prevent any further escape of air from
the receiver a.
When the figure has risen to or near to the top of the tube 6 the edge of the
parachute engages with the wire g and is tilted, allowing the air under the
parachute to escape and lodge in the upper receiver c.
The figure then again descends until all the air in the vessel a has been released
and is contained in the vessel c.

page_text: To restart the apparatus it is only necessary to slowly turn the apparatus upside
down when the air contained in vessel c rises and displaces the water in the vessel a
which escapes through the opening h, the valve falling from its seat when the
apparatus is in its reversed position.
When the vessel a is again filled with air the apparatus is quickly restored to
its original position and the figure again commences to automatically ascend and
descend.
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 toy consisting of a lower receiver or vessel, an intermediate glass tube
containing water and a submerged figure, and an upper receiver or vessel con-
structed and arranged as described and illustrated.
2. In a toy constructed as before described the combination with the lower
vessel or receiver, of a valve which is opened by the descent of a figure to release
some of the air contained within the lower vessel substantially as described and
illustrated.
3. The combination with a toy constructed as described, of a wire which tilts
the figure and allows the air contained under the parachute to escape, substantially
as described.
Dated this 10th day of June 1893.
H. B. BARLOW & GILLETT,
17, St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for Applicant.