Improvements in and relating to Toy Parachutes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 21st Sept., 1892-Accepted, 22nd Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Toy Parachutes.
We DAVID ALEXANDER CROMBIE, Architect, 34 St. Andrew Square, and
EDWARD ROBERTSON FLETCHER, of 24 Queen's Crescent Merchant, both in the
City and County of Edinburgh, do hereby declare the nature of our invention to
be as follows:
This invention has reference to and comprises a new or improved construction
or arrangement and combination of toy parachute and its fittings, and mode of
elevating or propelling and liberating same in the atmosphere, so that it shall
imitate in miniature proportions the actions of balloon elevated parachutes, and
be a source of recreation and amusement to children or adults.
Our miniature parachute would be formed preferably of a circular shape of
silk, cotton, or other light fabric or buoyant material, and would have attached to
its outer circumference at suitable and equal distances apart, a series of vertical
hanging threads or cords, which would be all attached at their other ends to a
concentrated central point preferably a wire or bar held between the hands of a
suspended doll or miniature man or object. A loop or other catch would be
secured between the feet of the man or object, and a ring or other catch would be
stitched or secured to the centre of the top surface of the parachute. In elevating
or propelling this miniature parachute up into the atmosphere, under one arrange-
ment the ring or loop catches on the feet of the miniature man or object and on
the centre of the parachute buoyant material respectively would be loosely slipped
over the point of or a projection or support at or near this end of an arrow or rod,
and on this arrow being propelled into the atmosphere and began its return
descent the loose catches would drop off its end and the parachute be liberated
and expand out and slowly descend to the ground imitating in miniature form the
motions of an ordinary parachute. By another arrangement the catch on the
miniature man or object would be rigidly fixed to the end of the arrow, the catch
of the parachute covering only being a loose one, so that when the arrow is
propelled or shoots up, the cover catch will be liberated, and the parachute
expand, but in this case the broad or lower end of the arrow would be fitted with
a metallic ferrule covering or other weight, so as to bring or make it hang down
vertically in its descent with the parachute attached to its end expanded out
above. The arrows or rods carrying the parachute upwards as described, would
be elevated or propelled vertically into the atmosphere by a motor, how, or other
pressure organ, which would or may consist of a hand vertical guide tube having
the two ends of an indiarubber or elastic band or a bow string, attached to it,
while the central part of said band would hang loose, so that when the lower end
of the arrow is inserted down through this tube and the centre of the band or a
pocket on it expanded to bear on the end of arrow, and both drawn out together
by hand and then let go, the arrow will be propelled up into the atmosphere with
a force and velocity proportionate to the force exerted by hand in expanding out
the elastic band, or bow, and when beginning its return descent the parachute
will be liberated to expand out and descend to the ground in its natural working
way.
For the larger sizes an ordinary arrow bow may be used as the propelling
medium, either with or without the guide tube.
Under another arrangement the motor or propelling medium may be made in

page_text: the form of a small rocket or other firework attached to the arrow or rod which
will elevate or carry it up the desired distance.
Dated the 23rd December 1891.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Toy Parachutes.
We, DAVID ALEXANDER CROMBIE, Architect, 34 St. Andrew Square, and
EDWARD ROBERTSON FLETCHER, of 24 Queen's Crescent, Merchant, both in the
City and County of Edinburgh, do hereby declare the nature of our invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement in writing, that is to say -—
This invention has reference to and comprises a new or improved construction
or arrangement and combination of toy parachute and its fittings, and mode of
elevating or propelling and liberating same in the atmosphere, so that it shall
imitate in miniature proportions the actions of balloon elevated parachutes, and be
a source of recreation and amusement to children or adults.
And in order that our said invention and the manner of performing or carrying
the same into effect or practice may be properly understood, we have hereunto
appended an explanatory drawing, in which
Figure 1 represents an elevation of a bow and arrow as in the act of projecting
or propelling upwards our miniature parachute which is portably attached at the
point of the arrow. And
Figure 2 represents an elevation of our parachute in its expanded out position
after being liberated from the arrow and floating through the air to the earth.
Referring to these drawings:--Our miniature paracute a would be formed
preferably of a circular shape of silk, cotton, or other light fabric or buoyant
material, and would have attached to its outer circumference at suitable and equal
distances apart, a series of vertical hanging threads or cords a', which would all be
attached at their ends to a concentrated central point preferably a wire or bar
at a placed in the upper end of a hollow object 2 or it may be held between the
hands of a suspended doll or miniature man or like object. A ring or other
catch a would be stitched or secured to the centre of the top surface of the
parachute a. In elevating or propelling this miniature parachute up into the
atmosphere, under one arrangement the central hollow stem of the object a² or
the ring or loop catches on the feet of the miniature man, when that is used,
would be loosely slipped over the point of or a projection or support at or near
this end A of an arrow or rod A; and the ring a³ of the parachute would be
placed over the pointed end of the object a² as shown in Figure 1, and on this
arrow A being propelled into the atmosphere and having begun its return descent
the object a and parachute ring a³, or loose catches would become detached from
the end A' and the parachute a be liberated and expand out and slowly descend
to the ground imitating in miniature form the motions of an ordinary parachute.
By another arrangement the object a² or a catch on a miniature man or doll would
be rigidly fixed to the end A' of the arrow A, the ring catch a³ of the parachute
covering a only being a loose one, so that when the arrow A is propelled or
shoots up the cover catch a will be liberated, and the paracute expand, but in this
case the broad or lower end A³, of the arrow A, would be fitted with a metallic
ferrule, covering or other weight so as to bring or make it hang down vertically in
its descent with the parachute a attached to its end expanding out above. The
arrows or rods A, carrying the parachute upwards as described would be elevated
or propelled vertically into the atmosphere by a bow B, B', or other pressure

page_text: organ, and when beginning its return descent the parachute a will be liberated to
expand out and descend to the ground in its natural working way, as shown in
Figure 2.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
First. A toy parachute portably attached to the end of an arrow or rod, having
a weighted lower end, and which when propelled by a bow or equivalent motor
into the atmosphere, will be liberated from the arrow and descend to the earth
in expanded form, substantially as set forth.
Second. A toy parachute rigidly attached to the end of an arrow or rod, with a
weighted lower end and which when propelled by a bow or equivalent motor into
the atmosphere, will have its top ring fastening freed from the arrow, but will
have its cords connected to and float in expanded form with the arrow to the
earth, substantially as set forth.
Dated the 20th September 1892.
W. R. M. THOMSON & Co.,
96, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Agents.