Year: 1885

page_text: I JOSIAH TAYLOR MAREAN residing at Brooklyn in the County of Kings and
State of New York United States of America Gentleman, 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 has for its object the simulation of a real race and it consists in
arranging any desired number of miniature figures of mounted horses or other
figures in such a manner as that they will revolve around a common perpendicular
pivotal post and in combining with this arrangement a follower and suitable driving
mechanism whereby the figures are projected one beyond the other successively and
without interfering as will be hereinafter explained.
This Invention also consists in the peculiar construction of the parts above named
and in other details which will be hereinafter referred to.
I will describe the invention with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Figure 1 of which represents a plan of the apparatus a portion being broken
away for the purpose of showing the interior and
Figure 2 is a cross section on the line . x figure 1.
Figure 3 is a detail sectional view to a larger scale the section being on the line
3. y. figure 1.
In the drawings A represents a box or casing of any suitable size and formed
either of wood or metal. B is a cover to the same having flanges b which fit down
over the box. This cover is formed preferably of tin although it may be made of
wood or any other suitable material. By constructing the cover as described with
the flange b it may easily be removed whenever desired. The cover is divided into
two parts an inner and an outer. The inner part is circular in shape and between
it and the outer part is an open portion which constitutes the race course or
track C.
Connecting the inner and outer parts of the cover B are arches B' under which
the figures travel in moving over the course. Centrally located within the box or
casing A is a rigid post or standard D, attached as is shown in figures 2 and 3 to
the bottom of said casing.
In figure 3 the lower terminus of the post D is shewn having a square portion
which fits into a plate d having a corresponding opening, the plate being attached
to the bottom of the box.
Journaled upon the central post D are any suitable or desirable number of
horizontal wires or arms E.

page_text: In the drawing annexed five arms are shewn but the invention is not confined
to any particular number. These wires are bent upwards at the ends e and to
these perpendicular portions are attached the figures F. Upon the opposite ends
of the wires or arms E are placed weights G which may be arranged so as to be
adjustable. These weights counterbalance the weight of the figures F and by this
means friction and the consequent wear at the pivots of the horizontal arms is
greatly diminished and a smooth, steady, and continuous motion secured instead of
a jerky and interrupted one. As before stated these weights are adjustable and are
arranged so as to nearly, but not quite, balance the figures at the opposite ends.
By such an arrangement the best results are obtained. The horizontal wires or
arms E are of different lengths and the vertical ends e are arranged in succession
one beyond the other from the top to the bottom so that the figures F, in travelling
around the course will pass each other without interference. Washers H are placed
on the central post D between the horizontal wires, or arms, to prevent their
interfering at this point and to facilitate the movement of the working parts.
Journaled upon the central post or standard D is a D-shaped follower J. The
vertical shaft K of this follower is journaled at both its ends in the horizontal arms
of the follower J and is free to rotate upon its axis. The shaft K is provided with
cams L which are rigidly attached to the shaft and which move in unison there-
with when the shaft rotates. A cam is arranged opposite each of the horizontal
wires or arms E so that as the follower revolves and the shaft rotates each arm is
projected forward by the cam which bears against it.
Attached to the lower horizontal arm of the follower J is a bevel pinion wheel N
which is journaled in the central post D and is free to turn thereon. A smaller
beveled pinion wheel N gears into this and is adapted to be operated by means of
a horizontal shaft o provided with a handle P. A pinion wheel R is keyed to the
lower portion of the vertical cam shaft K and gears with a larger pinion wheel S
rigidly attached to the central post D.
The operation of the device is as follows:-
When the handle P and shaft O are turned the bevel pinion N gearing with the
bevel pinion M will cause the latter to rotate which will in turn operate the
follower J attached to it. As the follower moves around the post D, the pinion
wheel R will be carried with it. The pinion wheel will also have an independent
rotating movement of its own by virtue of its gearing with the stationary pinion S.
This double movement is imparted to the shaft K and the cams L which rotate
and revolve at the same time and in unison with the pinion R.
It will be seen that as the follower J revolves around the central post L the cam
shaft K and cams L will rotate upon their axes and the faces of the cams will be
successively projected against the horizontal wires or arms E, thus diversifying the
movements of the figures and causing each in turn to spurt, or travel ahead of the
others.
The sizes of the wheels R, S, and the consequent number of the coga, in each, can
be such as to vary as much as possible the relative position of the figures at the
termination of the different races.
A bell T and a suitable stop t can be arranged to automatically terminate the
race and one of the arches B₁ can be selected as the winning post and a figure
placed there representing the judge and judges stand. A grand stand W can be
placed upon the cover or attached to the side of the box furnished with figures
representing spectators, thus further simulating a real race.
The figures of the horses and riders may be substituted by men walking, riding,
velocipedes, or by any other figures desired and they may be made removable from
the arms and replaceable by other figures so as to give the toy more variety and
всоре.
The track may be enclosed by a fence y.
The toy may be operated in any other way, for example by a clock work
mechanism brought in connection with the upper arm of the follower through a
hole to be left in the contra of the

page_text: By reversing the arms end for end and turning the crank the other way the
figures may be made to move in the opposite direction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First. A toy race course provided with miniature figures attached to wires or
arms journaled on a central post in combination with a follower made to revolve
about the axis of such post and having a rotating shaft provided with cams which
bear respectively against the several arms and successively project the figures one
beyond the other as the follower revolves and the shaft rotates as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by the accompanying drawing.
Second. A toy race course provided with the miniature figures attached to the
horizontal wires or arms pivoted as described on a central post, the said wires or
arms having at their opposite ends the adjustable counterbalancing weights for the
purpose set forth.
Third. A toy race course provided with the horizontal wires or arms and the
figures and counterbalancing weights in combination with the follower journaled
on the same post as the horizontal arms and provided with the cam shaft and cams
and the pinion wheel gearing into the stationary pinion wheel or the aforesaid
central post substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accom-
panying drawings.