An Improved Toy Appliance for Exploding Detonators and Throwing Projectiles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 12th May, 1897-Accepted, 3rd July, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIF
ION.
An Improved Toy Appliance for Exploding Detonators and
Throwing Projectiles.
I SAMUEL EDMOND STATHAM of Manor House, Levenshulme, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Indiarubber Manufacturer and Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
My said invention relates to an improved toy appliance for exploding detona-
tors and throwing projectiles. The appliance consists of two discs or bodies
preferably of metal cast, pressed or otherwise made to the required shape. One of
the said discs is dished in the centre while the opposing disc carries a projection
to enter the said dished centre. Each of the discs is provided at the back with a
handle by which they may be drawn apart. One of the discs, the dished disc for
example, carries a staple formed wire loop upon the members of which the other
disc slides. Snugs are provided on both discs to receive 'the said limbs of the
loop. Similar snugs are also provided to take short pieces of rubber cord knotted
at each end and slipped into position in the snugs through slits formed in the sides
of the snugs. The rubber cords being slipped into position in an extended state
they cannot afterwards come out. When put to use the discs are drawn apart
against the strain of the rubber cords. The detonator is placed in the bottom
of the dished disc. The upper disc is then released and is snapped by the
resiling rubber against the dished disc exploding the interposed detonator.
The apparatus may also be used as a catapult by forming the dished disc with
a hole through the bottom and handle.
A dart placed in this hole may then he shot from the appliance by the resiling
snap of the connected half. If the appliance is made to answer both purposes the
said hole through the dished dise should be plugged by a screw or other means
when the appliance is used to explode detonators.
An Improved Toy Appliance for Exploding Detonators and
Throwing Projectiles.
I SAMUEL EDMOND STATHAM of Manor House, Levenshulme, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Indiarubber Manufacturer and Engineer, 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 and
Bccompanying drawings.
My said invention relates to an improved toy appliance for exploding deto

page_text: nators and throwing projectiles. My invention is clearly illustrated in the
accompanying sheet of drawings in which Fig. 1 represents an elevation of the toy
appliance as adapted for exploding detonators.
Fig. 2 is a plan of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation.
Fig. 4 is a modified form of the appliance.
Fig. 5 is a plan view of the lower disc shown in Fig. 4 and Fig. 6 represents the
appliance adapted to throw projectiles.
The appliance consists of two discs or bodies ab preferably of metal, cast, pressed
or otherwise made to the required shape. The disc a is formed with a dished out
portion a¹ in the centre as shown in the drawings, while the opposing disc bis
formed with a projection to enter the dished centre a¹ of the disc a. Each of
the discs is provided at the back with a handle a 2 by which they may be drawn
apart. The disc a carries a staple formed wire loop c. Holes formed in the
disc are provided to enable the disc b to slide freely upon the members of the
wire loop c.
Short pieces of elastic cord e are secured at each end to the discs a and b, the
constant tendency of which is to bring the discs together as shown in Fig. 1.
The pieces of elastic cord e are passed through holes e' in the discs a and b and
may be knotted at each end or otherwise secured to the discs.
When put to use the discs a and b are drawn apart against the strain of the
elastic cords e. The paper or other detonating cap is placed at the bottom of the
dished out portion a' of the disc a. The disc b is then released and is snapped by
the resiling elastic cords e against the dished disc a exploding the interposed de-
tonator.
Instead of the elastic cords e I might mount a spiral spring f upon the wire
loop c as indicated in Fig. 4 of the drawings. The disc 6 would then be drawn
back upon the wire loop c against the action of the spring f which would not be
so apt to break or get out of order as the elastic cords e.
To facilitate the placing into position' of the detonating cap, instead of simply
dishing the disc a as described I might form the same as indicated in elevation in
Fig. 4 and in plan view in Fig. 5. In this case a way or passage g is formed in
the face of the disc a leading directly to the dished out portion a. The detona-
ting cap may then be introduced along the passage g to the dished out portion a¹
without the necessity for drawing the discs apart. The passage g and dished por-
tion a¹ may also be provided with an undercut recess g¹ to embrace or overhang the
edges of the paper detonating cap and maintain it in position, and so prevent the
same from falling out at a critical moment.
The apparatus may also be used as a catapult.
In this case the handle a' which is screwed into the disc a as indicated in the
sectional elevation Fig. 3 is unscrewed leaving an aperture through which the
projectile may be discharged.
Fig. 6 of the drawings illustrates this method of using the appliance.
The handle a having been unscrewed a dart h is inserted through the aper-
ture. The inner end of the dart h is held between the thumb and finger and
drawn back, sliding the disc b upon the wire loop c against the action of the elastic
cords e or other spring. Upon releasing the dart h the resiling of the disc b dis-
charges the dart.
If considered desirable instead of having the handle a removable it may be
formed in one with the disc a and a hole be formed throughout its length for the
reception of the dart h. The hole could then be plugged with a screw or other
means when the appliance was required to explode detonators. When required
only for use in exploding detonators, the handle a¹ need not be made removable
or be formed with a hole in its length, and similarly the disc a might be formed
with a permanent aperture so as to be used solely for discharging projectiles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-

page_text: tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim
is.
1. The improved toy appliance for exploding detonators and throwing pro-
jectiles constructed arranged and acting in the manner and substantially as
described and shown.
2. A toy appliance for exploding detonators composed of a dished disc a,
opposing or discharging disc b, sliding upon a wire loop e, against the action of
elastic cords e, substantially as described and illustrated with reference to Fig. 1 to
3 of the drawings.
3. The modified form of appliance for exploding detonators substantially as
described and illustrated with reference to Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings.
4. The improved toy appliance adapted for discharging projectiles consisting
of a perforated disc a preferably formed by removing the handle a or forming
the same with a hole throughout its length, opposing or discharging disc b, sliding
upon a wire loop c against the action of elastic cords c or other springs substantially
as described and illustrated with reference to Fig. 6 of the drawings.
Dated this 11th day of May 1897.
For the Applicant,
E. K. DUTTON & Co.
Chartered Patent Agents.
5 John Dalton St., Manchester.