IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANICAL TOY ANIMAL FIGURES
Year: 1884

page_text: I WILLIAM HAMILTON HALL of No 72, Denmark Villas, West Brighton in the
county of Sussex, Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of the said invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANICAL TOY ANIMAL FIGURES to be as follows:-
73
Toy animal figures animated or moving by mechanical means are at present as a
rule expensive to manufacture owing to their method of construction and are also
more or less imperfect in their movements and the objects of this invention are to
provide a cheaper method of construction as well as a means for making the
movements of the said animal figures more perfect and natural,
Now the said invention consists of the following principle and means of
construction:-Take for the purpose of description the figure of a horse which
it is required shall mechanically walk along, bending the knees of the forelegs and
lifting the lower portions of the hind legs at the hock joints as they respectively
nove or step forwards in a natural manner. The legs are actuated at their upper
extremities and the body of the horse is hollow to receive the mechanism actuating
the same.
The legs are jointed about midway between their junction with the
body and the feet and the lower portions of the legs below the said joints may be
raised and lowered by means of rods (hereinafter called joint-rods) connected with
some convenient part of the said lower portions respectively, which joint rods
passing upwards through the upper portions of the legs (hollowed to allow of the
same) are then connected with and actuated by cranked axles. The said cranked
axles are two in number (one for the fore legs and one for the hind legs) and pass
transversely through the body and may be of bent wire. The wires or crank pins
which hold the said joint rods also pass through slots in the upper portions of the
legs so that each crank when actuated not only works the whole leg it serves
backwards and forwards by means of the slot but simultaneously lifts and lowers
the lower portion of it by means of the joint rod. The legs are hung or supported
upon wire pins passing through their upper extremities and fixed transversely
across the body above the said crank axles. The positions of the cranks actuating
the legs as aforesaid in relation one to another are arranged so that the feet strike
the ground alternately in a manner natural to the walking pace of a horse.
Motive power may be transmitted to the said cranked axles for the purpose of
giving motion to the legs by means of clockwork in the interior of the body or by
means of clock work contained in some convenient part of a carriage or vehicle
attached to the horse the said clockwork in the latter case giving motion to the
wheels of auch carriage or vehicle and the said motion being transmitted to the
said cranked axles actuating the legs as aforesaid by the ineans following, viz :—
The axletree or one of the axletrees (if more than one) of the said carriage or
vehicle is doubly cranked there being a difference of ninety degrees in the relative
positions of the two cranks, that is to say, one crank is at right angles with the
other and the said cranked axles actuating the legs are further doubly cranked in a

page_text: corresponding manner and are then connected at such cranks by two connecting
rods one of the said cranked axles (the one actuating the forelegs by preference)
being then in turn connected with the said cranked axletree by two connecting
rods in the same manner. Or motive power may be transmitted to the said
cranked axles for the purpose of giving motion to the legs by the use of connecting
rods in connection with a cranked axletree of a carriage or vehicle attached as
aforesaid alone the construction being simply drawn or pushed along or by other
suitable means and if clockwork is used as aforesaid the spring thereof may be
arranged as follows, viz:-Instead of being rivetted or fastened in the usual
manner to the axle around which it is coiled the said axle has fastened upon it a
small ratchet wheel and the inner end of the said spring is loose and the extremity
thereof is bent inwards or may have an aperture of suitable size and shape to
allow of the teeth of the said ratchet wheel engaging therewith or other arrange-
ment having a similar effect so as to allow the object driven by the said clock work
to move in a forward direction freely and independently thereof. The relative
positions of the cranks actuating the legs as aforesaid may be so arranged and
adjusted that the feet are timed to strike the ground in the order natural not
only to the walking pace of an animal but also to a trotting, galloping, or
other pace.
Instead of the said cranked axles being below the said wire pins upon which the
legs are hung or supported as aforesaid as is suitable to the case of a walking
figure the same may be placed above the said pins which is suitable to the case of
a fast trotting figure or where the pace requires that the movement forward of the
legs-when-the-feet-are-lifted should be slower than the movement backwards when
the feet strike the ground. And in the case where the said cranked axles are
placed above the said supporting pins the same will require to be actuated in an
opposite direction to the cranked axletree of the carriage or vehicle attached as
aforesaid where motive power is transmitted by such means-it is necessary
therefore that each of the connecting rods connecting one of the said cranked
axles with the said cranked axletree as aforesaid should connect the cranks at each
end thereof inversely to effect this object the bearings of the said connecting rods
being allowed a little extra looseness or play at their connections with the crank
pins proportionate to the working diameter of the cranks and the length of the
Baid connecting rods. As a modification of the foregoing the legs of the said
animal figures may be without joints or joint rods and in that case they are
actuated substantially in the same manner with the difference that the said legs are
hung or supported upon the wires or crank pins of the cranks which work them
as aforesaid and the said wire pins hereinbefore referred to as "supporting pins
pass through the slots in the upper portions of the legs so that each leg is worked
backwards and forwards and simultaneously bodily lifted and lowered. In the
case where a horse or other animal figure has attached behind it a carriage or
vebicle, the said carriage or vehicle may have attached to the shafts or other
convenient part thereof in a position intermediate of the wheels of the said
carriage or vehicle and the said horse or animal figure a small wheel or other
support which when the construction is moving alternately is in contact with and
is lifted clear of the ground for the purpose of supporting the said horse or animal
figure when it is not desirable that the feet or any of them shall be in contact with
the ground. The principle and means of construction comprised in the said
invention may be applied as well to two legged animal figures as to those having
four legs including human figures and the actuating of the arms as well as the legs
of such human figures.
"

page_text: I, WILLIAM HAMILTON HALL, of N° 72 Denmark Villas, West Brighton, in the
county of Sussex, Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANICAL TOY ANIMAL FIGURES" and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:―
Toy animal figures animated or moving by mechanical means are at present as a
rule expensive to manufacture owing to their method of construction and are also
more or less imperfect in their movements and the objects of this invention are to
provide a cheaper method of construction as well as a means for making the
movements of the said animal figures more perfect and natural.
Now the said invention consists of the following principle and means of
construction Take for the purpose of description the figure of a horse which it is
required shall mechanically walk along beuding the knees of the forelegs and
lifting the lower portions of the hind legs at the hock joints as they respectively
move or step forwards in a natural manner. The legs are actuated at their upper
extremities and the body of the horse is hollow to receive the mechanism actuating
the same.
The legs are jointed about midway between their junction with the
body and the feet and the lower portions of the legs below the said joints may be
raised and lowered by means of rods (hereinafter called "joint rods ") connected
with some convenient part of the said lower portions respectively-which joint
rods passing upwards through the upper portions of the legs (hollowed to allow of
the same) are then connected with and actuated by cranked axles. Or the said
joint rods, instead of passing upwards through the upper portions of the legs may
so pass on either side thereof or may be in a doubled form and so pass on both sides
thereof. The said cranked axles are two in number (one for the fore legs and one
for the hind legs) and pass transversely through the body and may be of bent wire
The wires or crank pins which hold the said joint rods also pass through slots in
the upper portions of the legs so that each crank when actuated not only works
the whole leg it serves backwards and forwards by means of the slot but
simultaneously lifts and lowers the lower portion of it by means of the joint rod.
The legs are hung or supported upon wire pins passing through their apper
extremities and fixed transversely across the body above the said crank axles.
The positions of the cranks actuating the legs as aforesaid in relation one to
another are arranged so that the feet strike the ground alternately in a manner
natural to the walking pace of a horse. The axletree or one of the axletrees (if
more than one) of the said carriage or vehicle is doubly cranked there being a
difference of 90 degrees in the relative positions of the two cranks, that is to say,
one crank is at right angles with the other and the said cranked axles actuating
the legs are further doubly cranked in a corresponding manner and are then
connected at such cranks by two connecting rods one of the said cranked axles (the
one actuating the forelegs by preference) being then in turn connected with the

page_text: said cranked axletreo by two connecting rods in the same manner.
The relative
positions of the cranks actuating the legs as aforesaid may be so arranged and
adjusted that the feet are timed to strike the ground in the order natural not only
to the walking pace of an animal but also to a trotting, galloping or other pace.
Instead of the said cranked axles being below the said wire pins upon which the
legs are hung or supported as aforesaid as is suitable to the case of a walking figure
the same may be placed above the said pins which is suitable to the case of a fast
trotting figure or where the pace requires that the movement forward of the legs
when the feet are lifted should be slower than the movement backwards when the
feet strike the ground. And in the case where the said cranked axles are placed
above the said supporting pins the same will require to be actuated in an opposite
direction to the cranked axletree of the carriage or vehicle attached as aforesaid-
where motive power is transmitted by such means-it is necessary therefore that
each of the connecting rods connecting one of the said cranked axles with the said
cranked axletree as aforesaid should connect the cranks at each end thereof inversely
to effect this object. Or the same object may be effected by a single connecting rod
connecting inversely one of the said cranked axles with the said cranked axletree,
such single connecting rod working through a fixed eye or runner at its central
part or having other means to preserve to it a linear motion at that part-As a
inodification of the foregoing tho legs of the said animal figures may be without
joints or joint rods and in that case they are actuated substantially in the same
manner with the difference that the said legs are hung or supported upon the wires
or crank pins of the cranks which work them as aforesaid and the said wire pins
herein before referred-to-as "supporting-pins" pass through the slots in the upper
portions of the legs so that each leg is worked backwards and forwards and
simultaneously bodily lifted and lowered and in the case when a borse or other
animal figure has attached behind it a carriage or vehicle the said carriage or vehicle
may have attached to the shafts or other convenient part thereof in a position
intermediate of the wheels of the said carriage or vehicle and the said horse or
animal figure a small wheel or other support which when the construction is moving
alternately is in contact with and is lifted clear of the ground for the purpose of
supporting the said horse or animal figure when it is not desirable that the feet or
any of them shall be in contact with the ground. The principle and means of
construction comprised in the said invention may be applied as well to two legged
animal figures as to those having four legs including human figures and the
actuating of the arms as well as the legs of such human figures.
In order to enable my invention to be fully understood I will proceed to describe
the same by reference to the accompanying drawing in which figure 1, is a plan
shewing the mechanism of a toy horse constructed according to my invention and
having jointed legs, the mechanism being arranged so that the toy shall imitate the
movements of a horse when drawing a vehicle and moving at a walking pace;
figure 2, is a longitudinal section on line A B of figure 1, and figures 3, and 4, are
transverse vertical sections on the lines CD and E F respectively of figure 1;
figure 5, is a plan ahewing the mechanism of a toy horse having legs without
joints and arranged so that the toy shall imitate the movements of the animal
when drawing a vehicle and running at a fast trotting pace; figures 6, and 7, are a
longitudinal section and a vertical transverso section on the lines G H and I, J
respectively of figure 5; figure 8, is a plan shewing the mechanism of a toy man
having jointed legs and arranged so that the toy shall imitate the movements of a
man when pushing a hand cart and moving at a running pace; figure 9, is a
longitudinal section on the lino K, L, of figure 8, and figure 10, is a front elevation
of the same. Similar letters in all the figures represent similar or corresponding
parts.
I will first describe my invention by reference to figures 1 to 4.
a, and a¹, represent the legs of the toy actuated at their upper extremities; b, is n
frame forming the body of the horse and serving to receive the mechanism actuating

page_text: the legs; c, c, represent the joints of the legs about midway between their junction
with the body and the feet; d, d, are the joint rods jointed at e, to the lower
portions a, of the legs and serving to raise and lower the said portions of the legs ;
the joint rods d, pass upwards through the upper portions a¹, of the legs as shown;
ff, are the cranked axles formed of bent wire to which the said joint rods d, are
connected the cranked axles f, f¹, passing transversely through the body and bearing
in the frame b; g, g', are the slots in the upper portions a¹, of the legs through
which slots pass the wires or cranks f, which hold the joint rods d; h, h, are the
pins on which the legs are hung or supported; the said pins pass through the upper
extremities of the legs and are fixed transversely across the body above the crank
axles ff, the positions of the cranks f, are arranged in relation to each other so
that the feet shall strike the ground alternately in a manner natural to the walking
pace of a horse, these relative positions are shewn clearly in figures 3, and 4, which
represent the mechanism operating the front and hind legs respectively; i, is the
axletree of the carriage or vehicle A, from which the cranks f,f¹, are operated;
the said axletree is doubly cranked at f*, one of the cranks thereof being at an
angle of ninety degrees or at right angles to the other and the cranks f¹, correspond
therewith as shewn; j, j, are the connecting rods connecting the cranks f¹, with
each other; k, k, are the connecting rods connecting the cranks f¹, of the forelegs
with the cranks f, on the axletree i, of the carriage as shewn in figure 3;
1, figure 2, is a rod or wire one of such rods or wires being pivotted on each side to
the axletree i, of the carriage or vehicle A, and to the extremities of the cranked
axle of the fore legs of the mechanical figure and which rods or wires l, form the
shafts of the carriage or vehicle.
Motive power may be transmitted to the said cranked axles f, f¹, for the purpose
of giving motion to the legs a, a, by means of clockwork in the interior of the
body or by means of clockwork contained in some convenient part of the carriage
or vehicle attached to the horse, the said clockwork in the latter case giving motion
to the wheels B, of such carriage or vehicle and the said motion being transmitted
to the said cranked axles f, f, actuating the legs a, a', by means of the connecting
rods as herein before described and shewn-It will be understood that when the
clock work mechanism is contained within the body of the animal the connecting
rods j, and k, would be dispensed with.
Or motive power may be transmitted to the said cranked axles f, f, for the
purpose of giving motion to the legs a, a¹, by the use of connecting rods in
connection with the cranked axletree i, of the carriage or vehicle A, attached as
aforesaid alone, the construction being simply drawn or pushed along or by other
suitable means. And if clockwork is used as aforesaid the spring thereof may be
arranged as follows, namely;-Instead of being rivetted or fastened in the usual
manner to the axle around which it is coiled the said axle has fastened upon it a
small ratchet wheel and the inner end of the said spring is loose and the extremity
thereof is bent inwards or may have an aperture of suitable size and shape to allow
of the teeth of the said ratchet wheel engaging therewith or other arrangement
having a similar effect so as to allow the object driven by the said clockwork to
move in a forward direction freely and independently thereof.
By this construction if motive power be transmitted to the axletree i, in either
of the before mentioned ways the motion of the cranks f³, will by means of the
connecting rods k, be communicated to the crank f, actuating the fore legs of the
figure and the crank actuating the hind legs will receive a similar motion by means
of the connecting rods j, j; as the cranks f, revolve in the slots g, g', of the legs
they will move the said legs backwards and forwards alternately and at the same
time lift and lower alternately the lower portions a, of the legs by means of the
joint rods d, in such a manner that the feet of the figure shall strike the ground
alternately in a manner natural to the walking pace of a horse.
The arrangement of the figure shewn in figures 5 to 7 is similar to that
herein before described and shewn in figures 1, to 4, with the exception that the

page_text: cranks ff, are placed above the supporting pins h, which arrangement is suitable
in cases where the feet of the figure are to be timed to strike the ground in the
order natural to a fast trotting horse or where the pace requires that the movement
forward of the legs when the feet are lifted should be slower than the movement
backwards when the feet strike the ground. The cranks f, f', are for this purpose
operated in an opposite direction to the cranks f, of the carriage or vehicle A by
connecting the said cranks inversely, the connecting rods & crossing one another as
shewn in figure 6, instead of working in a parallel manner as in figure 2, the
bearings of the said connecting rods being allowed a little extra looseness or play
at their connections with the crank pins proportionate to the working diameter of
the cranks and the length of the said connecting rods; in the figures I am now
describing I have shewn the legs without joints and joint rods and in this case the
legs a, are actuated substantially in the same manner as that hereinbefore described
when referring to figures 1, to 4, with the exception that they are hung or sup-
ported upon the wires or crank pins f, which operate them and the pins h, pass
through the slots g, g¹ so that each leg a, is moved backwards and forwards and
simultaneously bodily lifted and lowered.
Where motive power is transmitted by means of connecting rods in connection
with a cranked axletree of a carriage or vehicle as aforesaid the diameter of the
wheels of such carriage or vehicle should be in proportion to the pace of the animal
figure, that is to say, the ground covered by one complete revolution of the said
wheels must be about equal to the ground covered by one complete movement of
the legs; n, is the small wheel which may be attached to the shafts 1, of the
carriage or veliicle intermediate-of-the-wheels-B,-thereof which wheel n, when the
toy is moving is alternately in contact with and lifted clear of the ground for
the purpose of supporting the horse or other animal figure when it is not desirable
that the feet or any of them shall be in contact with the ground.
Where the pace of any such animal figure as aforesaid is suited thereto the feet
may be serrated or roughed in any suitable way and the legs actuated by the
contact with the ground.
In figures 8, 9 and 10, I have shewn my invention as applied to a two legged
figure the figure having jointed legs and pushing a hand cart and arranged to move
at a running pace. The arrangement is substantially the same as those herein-
before described with the exception that only one set of cranks f, f¹, is required
and the action of the figure will therefore be readily understood without further
description.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
Firstly. The method of actuating the limbs of mechanical toy figures by the use
of cranks and pins in combination with slots formed in the said limbs and the
means for transmitting motion to the said cranks by the employment of connecting
rods the whole arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore described.
Secondly. In a mechanical toy figure the method of connecting the spring of
clockwork mechanism with the driving axle for operating the limbs of the figure as
herein before described.
Thirdly. In a mechanical toy figure a cranked axle or axles such as f, f¹, working
in slots in the legs a, a, rods d, and supporting pins h, in combination either with
connecting rods j, and k, and cranked axletree i, as shewn in figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 9
and 10 of the drawing and operated as described, or with suitable mechanism
placed within the body of the figure for operating the same direct as and for the
purposes described and set forth.
Fourthly. In a mechanical toy figure a cranked axle or axles such as f, ƒ³,
carrying the limbs of the figure in combination with the pins h, working in slots in
the limbs and operated through the connecting rods j, and k, and cranked axle-

page_text: tree i, as shewn in figures 5 to 7, by any suitable mechanism or direct from
mechanism placed within the body of the figure as hereinbefore described.
Fifthly. The improved mechanical toy animal figures herein before described and
represented in the accompanying drawing.