Improvements in Toys.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 26th Oct.,
1895
Improvements in Toys.
I, WILLIAM JOHN PARKES, 29 Vivian Street, Swansea, Copper Blower
Manhes Converting Process, 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 :-
The object of my invention is to make a toy which on being drawn or pushed
along the ground or other surface shall cause a number of dolls or figures to rotate
at one and the same time round a centre common to all of them, and also round
their own axes.
In carrying out my invention I provide a more or less shallow box of a more or
less square or rectangular shape in plan, and having wheels on which it can be
moved about. The top of the box has a circular opening in it. To the axle
connecting two of the wheels 1 attach a worm which gears in a worm wheel capable
of revolving on a central peg or pin upstanding from the bottom of the box. To
the top of the worm-wheel is attached the underside of a platform of about the
same diameter as the circular opening in the top of the box. On the platform
are fastened as many pegs or projections as the toy is to contain dolls or other
figures. In this description it is assumed that there are four dolls, but without
limiting myself to that number. Each doll is fastened to a pulley having a central
hole so that it can be placed over and revolve easily round, one of the pegs or
projections in the platform. A piece of elastic band or the like is attached to one
side of the box, and then to the next adjacent side; another piece of elastic band
is then attached to this side and then to the third side and so on.
The points of attachment of the elastic bands are not coincident, but so placed
that the bands will cross each other at the centre of each side but at a distance
therefore. In placing the dolls on the pegs the elastic bands are made to enter
the edge of the pulley on the side furthest from the centre of the box, and this puts
the bands in tension and the friction between them and the pullies causes them (the
pullies) and the dolls to revolve round the pegs.
The toy can be drawn by a string or pushed or drawn by a handle, and can
be made of any suitable material such as metal, card, wood or the like or any
combination of them.
In order that my invention may be more readily understood I have annexed to
this Specification a sheet of drawings in which Fig. 1 shows a plan and Fig. 2 as
section through A. B. of Fig. of the toy, and Fig. 3 shows one of the dolls
attached to a pulley. For the sake of clearness the elastic bands are not shown in
Fig. 2.
In each figure similar letters refer to the same parts a b c and d and the sides
of the box, and e is the bottom and the top of it. g is the circular platform
hhhh are the pegs, ii i³ and are the elastic bands. jis a doll fastened on
the pulley is the hole in the pulley to fit on the pegs h¹ h² h³ h. m and m' are
the wheel axles and n and n¹ the wheels. One of the axles has a worm o gearing
in the worm wheel p which turns round the pin 9 and is attached to the bottom of
the platform g. Fig. 1 shows how two of the elastic bands in this case 2 and 3 are
distended and put in tension when the pulley k carrying the doll ; is properly put
on the pegs.
The action is as follows:-In drawing or pushing the toy over the ground or
other surface the axle with the worm on it turns the worm wheel and the

page_text: .
platform carrying the pegs, and the dolls on their pegs are made to rotate by the
friction between the pullies to which they are attached and the distended elastic
bands.
I do not confine myself to the actual proportions, relative positions, or details
of the various parts as herein mentioned or exemplified in the drawings, as they
may be varied without departing from my invention..
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In toys the combination of the various parts and details mentioned in the
above Specification whereby is produced a toy which on drawing or pushing it
over the ground or other surface shall cause a number of dolls or the like at one
and the same time to revolve round a centre common to all of them and also each
round its own axis, substantially in the manner above described and exemplified by
the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 20th day of September 1895.
HUGHES & YOUNG,
23 Coleman Street, London, E.C., Agents for Applicant.