Improvements in Mechanical Toys Propelled by Living Creatures.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 13th Nov., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanical Toys Propelled by Living Creatures.
I, WILLIAM RUFUS SMITH of 6 School Street in Westfield, County of Hampden,
and State of Massachusetts, United States of America, 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 relates to improvements in devices to be propelled by living
creatures, as for instance, trained mice, the object being to provide an attraction
for show windows and general amusement.
The invention relates to a device comprising a turn-table and a support on which
it turns; and the object of the invention is to provide in such a device means
whereby the turn-table will be supported for rotation in an inclined plane and
whereby said supporting devices permit the rotation of the turn-table with a
minimum of friction.
The invention consists in constructions and combinations of parts, all substantially
as will hereinafter fully appear and be set forth in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which the device is
illustrated, and in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation.
Figure 2 is a central vertical section through the parts of the device above the
base, and
Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the turn-table and equipments provided
thereon.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all of the views.
In the drawings, A represents a post or standard having at its bottom a base
or suitable feet A². At the top of said standard A a bushing b is set in a socket
therefor, said bushing having fitted therein and supporting the upwardly-extended
pin or rod d, which is bent, as shown, angularly to the vertical axis of the post.
B represents the turn-table, preferably covered over its top with cloth f. Upon
the under side of the turntable is affixed a block 9 having therein a circular
socket h, in which is set the hardened steel bushing i, having a central aperture
therein which is downwardly flaring, as shown at j. The upper end of this aper-
ture is rounded and receives therein the upper rounded end of the bent rod a.
m represents a strap of thin metal, the same being intermediately downwardly
bowed, having in its center the hole n and having its extremities t t screwed to
the block g. This strap applied as shown serves to keep the turn-table perpen-
dicular to the upper portion d² of said rod, which is angular to the vertical axis
of the supporting post, and thus the table in a plane inclined to the horizontal,
and insures that the wall of the flaring socket will only be in bearing and in
frictional contact against the rod at the rounded end thereof.
Mice may be easily trained to jump upon the turn-table and run thereon up-
wardly relative to the inclined marginal portion thereof, causing the table to
rotate with rapidity, and it is because of the inclination thereof, substantially as
shown, that the mice will be induced to run and continue this action with great

page_text: avidity. The inclination of the table, moreover, assures from the running action
the rotation thereof.
While in the accompanying drawings in the section Figure 2, a particular con-
struction is exhibited, whereby the turn-table is mounted for easy rotation on
an inclined plane, this specific post and socket construction need not necessarily
be adhered to, although a mounting of the table at an inclined plane is regarded
as important.
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. In a device of the character described, the combination with a post or
standard having at its upper end the rod d which is bent angularly to the vertical
line of the post, of a turn-table mounted on the upper end of said rod, perpendicular
to the length of said bent portion thereof, substantially as described.
2. In a device of the character described, the combination with a post or
standard A having at its upper end the rod d the upper end portion of which is
bent angularly to the length of the post, of the turn-table provided at its under
side with the socket j and having the downwardly bowed strap which engages
the said rod, said socketed turn-table being mounted for rotation on the upper
end of said rod d perpendicularly to the length of the bent portion thereof, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a post or
standard A having at its upper end the rod d the upper portion of which is bent
angularly to the line of the post, of the turn-table having at its under side the
block in which is set the hardened metallic bushing i having the socket j
which is downwardly flaring, and the strap m having its extremities secured to
said block g, being intermediately downwardly bowed and having the aperture n
which is in bearing engagement against the angularly bent upper portion of said
rod d, said turn-table being mounted for rotation on the upper end of said rod d
perpendicularly to the length of the bent portion thereof, substantially as described
and shown.
Dated this Fourteenth day of September 1897