Improvements in Automatic walking o
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Sept., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 21st June, 1900-Accepted, 28th July, 1900
Improvements in Automatic walking o
I, FERDINAND IMHOF, of 58, Unterden Linden, Berlin, in the Empire of Ger-
many, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
-
This invention has reference to automatic walking dolls, and has for its object
to imitate the human step, to produce a firm step, and to increase the comical
effect of same.
The walking mechanism is set in motion by means of clockwork situate
between two plates, the dimensions of same being such that it can be placed
within the body of the doll, its springs being wound by means of a key, which
may be placed on a square projecting end. A rotating fly device serves for
regulating the speed.
The spindle of the clockwork is extended on both sides beyond the carrying
plates, and carries three pairs of eccentrics, with their respective eccentric rods.
The object of one pair of eccentrics is to produce a pendulous motion of the
legs, which latter are attached to joints by means of levers, and at the free ends
respectively, of the latter, the rods of the eccentrics act.
In order that the centre of gravity of the figure may be moved into the cor-
rect position, the joints are adjustable by means of slit guides.
The second pair of eccentrics serves for shortening the legs at the proper
moment, and, for this purpose, the following arrangement has been made:-
Each leg is formed of two tubes which are telescopic, that is, movable one
inside the other. A rod is connected with the rod of either eccentric disc, and
with the lower half of the leg; and the stroke of the eccentrics is so calculated
that the leg in swinging forward is shortened.
The jointed connection between the lower halves of the legs and the foot
parts is formed by means of intermediate pieces; and a rod for each leg connects
the foot parts with the upper parts of the legs, so that the distance between the
two remains the same. There is therefore a shortening of the leg only in as
far as the fore-part of the foot is raised, and a trailing motion is thereby given
to the figure.
In order to prevent rotary motion, by reason of the inertia of the high lying
mass of mechanism, sharp points are arranged at the foot part of the doll for
use when the figure is making strides, and are attached to a common spring.
The rods of the third pair of eccentrics are provided with a rod connected with
them by joints, and the stroke is calculated so that the points enter the ground
when the foot is put down. At the side on which the projecting end for wind-
ing is disposed, the eccentric rods may be either open or curved, so that their
motion may not be interfered. with.
un
The mode of motion is as follows:-
When one leg of the figure swings forward, the lower half of the leg is drawn
and consequently the front part of the foot is raised, but as the upper portion

page_text: which lies in the trunk of the doll is pushed forward, there is no actual raising
of the foot from the ground, but rather a sliding along the ground.
As soon as the leg is on the point of swinging back, the points are pressed into
the ground, and thus the resistance required for the forward motion is found.
Dated this 20th day of September 1899.
I, FERDINAND IMHOF, of 58, unter den Linden, Berlin, in the Empire of Ger-
many, 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:―
This invention has reference to automatic walking dolls, and has for its
object to imitate the human step, to produce a firm step, and to increase the
comical effect of same.
The invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation.
Figure 2 a front elevation.
Figures 3 and 4 shew the eccentrics in side elevation.
Figure 5 is a side elevation of the foot-joint.
Figure 6 is a plan of the foot.
The walking mechanism is set in motion by means of clockwork situate
between two plates a and a¹, the dimensions of same being such, that it can be
placed within the body of the doll, its springs b being wound by means of a key,
which may be placed on a square projecting end c. A rotating fly device d
serves for regulating the speed.
The spindle e of the clockwork is extended on both sides beyond the carrying
plates aa, and carries three pairs f, f, g, g, h, h¹, of eccentrics, with their
respective eccentric rods.
The object of the one pair f f¹ of the eccentrics is to produce a pendulous
motion of the legs, which latter are attached at to joints, by means of
levers, and at the free ends respectively of the latter, the rods of the
eccentrics f f¹ act.
In order that the centre of gravity of the figure may be moved into the correct
position, the joints are adjustable by means of slit guides m.
The second pair g g of eccentrics serves for shortening the legs at the proper
moment, and, for this purpose, the following arrangement has been made.
Each leg is formed of tubes n o, and n¹ o¹ respectively which are telescopic,
that is, movable one inside the other. A rod is connected with the rod of
either eccentric disc g and with the lower half of the leg; and the stroke of
the eccentrics g g¹ is so calculated, that the leg in swinging forward, is shortened.
The jointed connection between the lower halves o o¹ of the legs and the foot
parts g, is formed by means of intermediate pieces and a rod s or s¹ for each
leg connects the foot part q q¹ with the upper parts of the legs, so that the
distance between the two remains the same. There is, therefore, a shortening
of the leg only in as far as the forepart of the foot is raised, and a trailing motion
is thereby given to the figure.
In order to prevent rotary motion, by reason of the inertia of the high lying

page_text: mass of mechanism, sharp points are arranged at the foot part of the doll for
use, when the figure is making strides, and are attached to a common spring u.
The rods of the third pairs h h of eccentrics are provided with a rod v connected
with them by joints, and the stroke is calculated so that the points enter the
ground when the foot is put down. At the side, on which the projecting end
for winding is disposed, the eccentric rods may be either open or curved, so
that their motion may not be interfered with.
The mode of motion is as follows:
When one leg of the figure swings forward, the lower half of the leg is drawn
up, and consequently the front part of the foot is raised, but as the upper portion'
which lies in the trunk of the doll is pushed forward, there is no actual raising
of the foot from the ground, but rather a sliding along the ground.
As soon as the leg is on the point of swinging back, the points are pressed into
the ground, and the resistance required for the forward motion is obtained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
°
1. In automatic walking mechanism for dolls, the employment of three pairs
of eccentrics, actuated by means of springs, and the rods of the said eccentrics
extending through the legs of the doll, for purposes described.
2. In automatic walking mechanism for dolls, the employment of three pairs
of eccentrics, actuated by means of springs, and the rods of said eccentrics
extending through the leg. parts of the doll, said leg parts being in telescopic
arrangement for the purposes described.
3. In automatic walking mechanism for dolls as claimed in Claim 1, points (t)
disposed upon the feet of the doll, and actuated by means of eccentrics; substan-
tially as and for the purposes described.
4. The automatic walking mechanism for dolls, combined and adapted to operate
particularly as shewn in and described with reference to the drawings.
Dotad this 21st Joy of June 1000.
FERDINAND IMHOF.
By Cheesbrough & Royston,
Agents for the Applicant, 15, Water Street, Liverpool.