Improvements in Toys.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Toys.
I, HOWARD FLETCHER, of 42, Jeffrey's Road, Clapham, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in toys, and the object is to provide toys
to which can be given a springing or hopping movement similar for instance to
that of a grass-hopper. In carrying my invention into effect, I proceed in or in about
the following manner, assuming it is applied to the imitated form of a grass-hopper,
but I do not confine its use to an insect of that kind only, as it is applicable to
animals and insects of different classes. I take a piece of wood or other suitable
material having greater length than width, and shape it to more or less represent
the grass-hopper or other creature. The underside of the piece of material I slope
upwards from the head part, so that the tail end is elevated somewhat above the
surface on which the piece of material may be placed. Near the "head" end of
the piece of material and downwards from the top thereof I make two holes, meet-
ing at the top of the material and coming out at opposite sides of the under side
of the material. Downwards through these holes I pass the legs of a piece of spring
like wire bent into an inverted ✓ shape, the length of the legs being such that
when pushed as far as possible through the holes, they will project considerably
therebeyond. The protruding ends on each side are then bent upwards and back-
wards and then downwards and still further backwards, the extreme ends being
bent up slightly. These wires represent the legs of the insect. By standing the
toy on a level surface and pressing on the elevated tail and suddenly removing that
pressure, the spring-like character of the legs will cause the imitation creature to
be shot up into the air and propelled some distance.
1000
'
HUGHES & YOUNG,
23, Coleman Street, London, E.C., Agents for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Toys.
HOWARD FLETCHER, 42, Jeffrey's Road, Clapham, London, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment:―
My invention relates to improvements in toys, and the object is to provide toys
to which can be given a springing or hopping movement similar for instance to

page_text: that of a grasshopper. In carrying my invention into effect, I proceed in or in
about the following manner, assuming it is applied to the imitated form of a grass-
hopper, but I do not confine its use to an insect of that kind only, as it is applicable
to animals and insects of different classes. I take a piece of wood or other suitable
material having greater length than width and shape it to more or less represent
the grasshopper or other creature. Near the "head" end of the piece of material
so formed I make a hole or slot in which I suitably fasten some pieces of steel wire
or other material of a spring like nature, these I bend into shape to represent the
legs & antlers of a grasshopper, the extreme end of the legs & antlers being bent
up slightly to prevent them sticking into the table or cloth & retarding the pro-
pellation of the grasshoppers. In the same way other shaped animals or insects
may be treated with legs & other limbs made of steel wire or any other suitable
substance of a springy nature.
The legs or other limbs of the animal or the body of the animal may be weighted
to better ensure them when propelled descending in a proper manner on their legs
or other limbs that are made of wire or other suitable material.
The modus operandi of using the toy is by placing it on a level surface & press-
ing on the "tail" end of the body & suddenly removing the pressure, when the
spring like nature of the legs or other limbs will cause the imitation creature to be
shot into the air & propelled, the distance of such propellation being regulated by
the pressure
& skill used.
The
The toy may be used in connection with a series of parlour or table games.
object being to propell the grasshoppers or other creatures, or a number of them,
by pressing them as beforesaid & causing them to jump into saucers, bowls, or on
to diagrams representing fields, ponds & such like, placed on the centre of a table
or other flat surface, the winner of the game being the player who first of all gets
all his grasshoppers or other creatures in the bowls etc., or on to the diagrams.
An amusing pastime for children may be provided by arranging a series of com-
petitions, to see who can make the grasshoppers or other creatures jump the highest
& longest & which can be jumped across a table or other flat surface in the fewest
number of attempts.
The foregoing are but a few examples of the various methods in which my
invention may be employed.
Having now 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:
1. Pressing imitation grasshoppers or other creatures to propel them & cause
them to jump, when the pressure is released.
2. The use of steel wire or other material of a springy nature for legs or other
limbs of imitation grasshoppers or other creatures to cause them to jump & be
propelled when pressed & released.
3. The imitation grasshoppers or other creatures made substantially as herein
described, for the purposes of a toy to be used in the manner herein set forth.
Dated this 26th day of November 1898.
HOWARD FLETCHER.