A Toy or Top Operated by Spring Force and having a Rotary Figure at the Circumference.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Toy or Top Operated by Spring Force and having a Rotary
Figure at the Circumference.
We, GUSTAV AURAS and PAUL WILKE of Grosse Bleichen No. 76 Hamburg in the
Empire of Germany 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 :-
The object of this invention is a toy consisting of a top operated by spring force
and of a figure, which is secured on a particularly shaped pedestal and adapted to
turn about its own axis as well as about that of the top, as soon as it is placed with
said pedestal in contact with the periphery of the disk or plate of the rotating top.
Referring to the accompanying drawing
Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the top with the figure in front view, and
Fig. 2 a top view of the top and figure.
The improved top consists of a fly-disk or plate b rigidly secured to the central
pin a and having an elevated rim. Over the pin a is placed a cylindric tube c
which, with its lower rim is nearly in contact with the plate, while being at the top
revoluble about a pivot d of the pin. The extremities of a helical spring e are rigidly
connected respectively to the tube or box c and plate b. In lieu of the cylindric
box also a hollow figure may be revolubly connected with the pin a, the hollow
space of such figure enclosing in that case the helical spring while that portion of the
pin a which extends below the plate b is formed into a foot, the whole top thus for
instance representing a female figure with bulged skirt or frock, the seam or rim of
which is formed by the raised edge of the fly-plate.
The pedestal of the doll or figure set in rotation by the top has its centre of
gravity in the lower part representing a segment of a sphere and having a central
pin which carries at the top a circular friction plate h. The doll or figure is fixed
on this plate, the lower surface of which bears on the elevated rim of the fly-plate b
as soon as it is placed correspondingly near the rotating top.
The top is started by holding fast the tube or box and turning the fly-plate so often
round in the direction indicated by an arrow in Fig. 2 as is required for a sufficient
tension of the spring. Subsequently the top is placed with the point of pin a on a
horizontal surface and then the plate b, and immediately afterwards the box, is let loose.
The doll or figure h g f, when now brought in proper contact with the top is given
the abovementioned movement around its axis and that of the top.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1) In a top consisting of a pin a and fly-plate 6 the application of a box or
figure e revolubly connected with the upper end of the pin and enclosing a helical
spring e the extremities of which are rigidly connected with the fly-plate and box or
figure respectively substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2) In combination with the top forming the subject of claim 1 a doll or figure
secured on a pedestal whose centre of gravity lies in the bottom portion ƒ forming a
segment of a sphere while its upper part carries a friction plate h substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 27th day of March 1890.
GUSTAV AURAS.
PAUL WILKE.
By Huelser & Co.,.
142, Fleet Street, London, Attorneys.