Improvements in Coin-freed Mechanical Toys.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Coin-freed Mechanical Toys.
We, GEORGE DAVID PALMER, of 68, Sampson Road, Sparkbrook, Engineer,
and HENRY HARTLEY, of Clarence Chambers, Corporation Street, Patent Broker,
both in the City of Birmingham, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
-
Our invention has for its object the construction of improved coin-freed
mechanical cycle racing and other like toys.
In the construction of a toy cycle racing apparatus in accordance with our
invention, we mount beneath a fixed circular table or platform representing a
cycle racing track, a central column or stem for supporting a pair of radial arms,
On the
each arm being arranged for rotation by a separate set of driving gear.
outer end of each arm we mount a toy bicycle fitted with spur or friction gearing
for the purpose hereinafter described, and having a metal or other figure, re-
presenting a rider, seated thereon. The inner end of one radial arm is fixed to
a spindle directly supported by the central column or stem, whilst the inner end
of the other arm is formed with or attached to a socket passing over the aforesaid
spindle.
The spindle and socket are each provided with a set of driving wheels operated
by a separate handle arranged on the exterior of the machine casing or framing.
Thus on the rotation of the handles by the operators or persons using the machine,
the toy cyclists travel round the track quite independently of each other and at
As the bicycles
speeds corresponding with the rate of rotation of the handles.
their wheels are caused to revolve and the legs of the figures to move with
the pedals, by the engagement of the spur or friction gearing fitted to the cycles
with circular racks or friction. plates or tracks arranged beneath the table or
platform.
move,
The operating handles are normally locked or prevented from rotation by the
coin-freed mechanism consisting preferably of a weighted lever which engages.
with a brake or retaining wheel secured on the handle shaft or spindle and so
Such a lever and brake or retaining wheel is
prevents same from rotation.
arranged within the machine casing in combination with each handle, and each
is released by a suitable coin inserted through a separate slot in the casing.
J
On the insertion of the coins in the respective slots one of them falls, after
freeing or releasing the operating handle by depressing and so disengaging the
weighted lever, directly into the till or exchequer, but the coin inserted through
the other slot passes from the weighted lever to a hinged or pivotted catch plate
until, on the arrival of a toy cyclist at the end of the course, suitably arranged
levers and connecting links are so operated by the passing figure as to tilt the
plate against the action of a spring and so cause the penny or other coin to pass
out through a return aperture. Thus the operator who first gets his figure to
the end of the course obtains the return of the coin.
The return of the toy cyclists to the starting point is effected preferably by the

page_text: action of springs on the radial arms, the forward driving gear and the operating
handles being prevented from rotation by ratchet wheels.
We sometimes arrange our machines for the operation of three or more toy
cyclists or other figures.
The complete machines with the course or racing track and other parts is
enclosed in a neat glass fitted casing.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, &
25, Cross Street, Manchester,
Agents for the Applicants.
We, GEORGE DAVID PALMER, of 68, Sampson Road, Sparkbrook, Engineer,
and HENRY HARTLEY, of Clarence Chambers, Corporation Street, Patent Broker,
both in the City of Birmingham, 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:-
Our invention has for its object the construction of improved coin-freed
mechanical cycle racing and other like toys.
On the two accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings to be hereinafter
referred to.-
Figure 1 is a front elevation representing a cycle racing machine constructed in
accordance with our invention, and Figure 2 is a plan with the platform or top
plate removed.
Figures 3 and 4 represent to a larger scale, in elevation and plan respectively,
the coin-freed mechanism.
The same reference letters in the different views indicate the same parts.
The upper part of the wood or other casing A forms a platform representing a
cycle racing track, (such circular track being shown by dotted lines at Figure 2),
beneath which, and in the centre of the casing we mount a stem or spindle B
supporting a pair of radial arms C C¹, cach arm being arranged for rotation by
a separate set of driving gear. On the outer end of each arm C C¹ we mount a
toy bicycle as D D' having a metal or other figure, representing a rider, seated
thereon. The inner end of one radial arm is fixed directly to the aforesaid
spindle B, whilst the inner end of the other arm is formed with or attached to a
socket fitting loosely or freely upon the spindle.
The arm fixed to the spindle is rotated by the handle E through the worm F
and worm wheel F whilst the arm fixed to the socket is driven by the handle G
through gearing as indicated. Thus on the rotation of the handles by the
operators or persons using the machines, the toy cyclists travel round the track
quite independently of each other and at speeds corresponding with the rate of
rotation of the handles. As the bicycles move their wheels are caused to revolve
by their contact with the platform or track, and the legs of the figures to move
with the pedals, by the engagement of teeth formed round the rim of the rear
wheel as with a pinion fitted upon the pedal spindle.
The operating handles E and G are normally locked or prevented from rotation
by the coin freed mechanism which is shown in detail at Figures 3 and 4. On
each handle shaft spindle we fix a retaining disc as e and 9 having a notch or gap

page_text: which engages a projection from a spring lever as H H. When the lever is
in such engagement with the disc the handle spindle is prevented from rotation.
The two levers are independent of each other and each is arranged in the casing
beneath a coin admission slot or aperture. On the insertion of a coin it falls
down the shoot or guide channel on to a pan mounted on the end of the lever,
beneath the lower end of the channel. By moving the handle lever J after the
insertion of a coin in each slot or admission aperture, the inclined projections k k¹
on the ends of the bar K which is attached to the lever J, are brought into contact
with the coins lying in the pans of the respective levers H and H and thus im-
part such a movement to the said levers about their pivots as will disengage them
from the retaining discs e and g hereinbefore referred to. The operating handles
are thus set free for rotation. The levers are held out of engagement with the
retaining discs, against the action of their springs, by the face cam wheels as L L'
respectively.
We preferably arrange to retain both coins in the lever pans until the toy
cyclists have been driven nearly round the track when one coin is discharged
directly into the till or exchequer of the machine, whilst the other passes out of
the casing through a return aperture. Thus although it is necessary to insert
two coins to free the mechanism one of them is always returned. This we effect
by employing hinged or pivoted coin pans each having a catch projection as h h¹
therefrom. On the arrival of the toy cyclists near the end of the course, an
inclined projection as and from the respective face cam wheels L L', impart
an additional rotary movement to the levers H and H. But on such movement
the coin pans are caused, by the abutment of the catch plates h and h¹ against the
fixed stops as M M', to move upon their own pivots and thus to eject the coins.
One coin falls directly into the till at the bottom of the casing but the other
passes out from the casing through the shoot N.
We sometimes arrange our machines for the operation of three or more toy
cyclists or other figures.
The course or racing track of the machine is enclosed by a glass case or cover.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
—
1. The improvements in coin-freed mechanical toys comprising the combina-
tion with a racing track or platform of two or more arms radiating from a central
stem and each carrying at its outer end a cycle racing or other figure, the said
arms being rotated and the figures caused to move by independent sets of turning
gear or mechanism, one set for each figure, which are simultaneously freed for
action only after the insertion of a coin in each admission slot or aperture,
substantially as described.
2.A coin-freed cycle racing machine constructed and arranged substantially
as described and as illustrated.
MARKS, & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, &
25, Cross Street, Manchester,
Agents for the Applicants.
MARKS, & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, &
25, Cross Street, Manchester,
Agents for the Applicants.