Improvements in Means for Imparting a Jumping Motion to Animal and other Toy Figures.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Aug., 1898-Accepted, 22nd Oct., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Imparting a Jumping Motion to
Animal and other Toy Figures.
I, AUGUST ROBERT HAMPEL, of 36, Bismarkstrasse, Magdeburg, in the German
Empire, Merchant, 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:-
My invention relates to a mechanical device or apparatus for imparting a
jumping motion to animal and other toy figures, such for instance as those repre-
senting frogs, grasshoppers, mice and the like.
As an example of the manner in which I prefer to construct the said device or
apparatus, and as an instance in which the same can be used for the purposes
stated, I have hereunto appended a sheet of drawings, in which I have chosen
to illustrate (merely in outline) a representation of a hollow figure such as a frog
or a mouse to which my said device or apparatus has been attached and of which
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of the said figure, while Fig. 2 is an under
plan view of,same.
For the purposes of my invention I construct of any suitable material or com-
bination of materials a hollow figure such as A with its under surface quite open
and within the said hollow portion and preferably near to the rear end of the
figure is securely fixed a rivet or pin B carrying a metallic spiral spring C, one
end of which a of said spring abuts against the rear portion of the casing of the
figure A, while the other end b is of such a length as to reach to the front part E
of the figure and carries a small plate D attached thereto or formed intregrally
therewith, the said end by the tension of the said spring being normally held
in the position shewn by dotted outline in Figs. 1 and 2. The under surface of
the head of the figure A is turned upwards and forms a recess or stop E this portion
being covered with a preparation of shoemakers or other such adhesive wax, as
is also the normally under surface of the plate D for purposes hereinafter explained.
In operating the said figure, the end of the spiral spring C is forced over from
its normal position (shewn in dotted outline) until its plate D impinges against
the stop when by pressing D against E, the adhesive properties of the wax upon
these parts overcomes for the moment the power of the spring C during which
time the figure A is placed upon a flat surface such as the floor or a table, when
immediately the tension of the spring overcomes the resistance of the wax, the
former forces the plate C and its end b to its original position, and in so doing
imparts a forward and rising jumping motion to the figure A and propels it
through the air and the same operation may be repeated as many times as desired..
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:-
1st. In toy, animal, and other figures the application thereto of a spring device
for propelling the same, through the air, and imparting a jumping motion thereto
substantially as herein set forth and shewn.

page_text: 2nd. In toy animal and other figures such as A. the combination therewith. of
a spring device for imparting motion thereto, the said device consisting of a spiral
spring C surrounding a fixed pin or the like B, the said spring having extended
ends a and b, the former resting against the said figure A while the latter carries
a plate D coated with a suitable adhesive substance and adapted to make contact
with a portion E of A, also coated with a like adhesive substance as and for the
purposes stated, and constructed, and operating substantially as set forth and
shewn by the appended drawings.
Dated this 8th day of August 1808
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
1, Broad Street Buildings, Liverpool Street, London, EC.,
Agent for the Applicant.