AN IMPROVED AUTOMATIC DRINKING FIGURE
Year: 1884

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
I, WILLIAM BRITAIN of Nugent House Hornsey Rise in the County of Middlesex
Mechanical Toy Maker do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for AN
IMPROVED AUTOMATIC DRINKING FIGURE to be as follows:―
My invention consists partly of an improved method of constructing and fixing
the bead and arms of any figure, required to convey (or appear to convey) drink
(or food) to the mouth, whereby a natural action is produced by a less number of
parts, than previously used for similar purposes.
My invention also consists of an improved method of fixing springs to the head
and arms of the said figure, whereby they may be easily adjusted, and their
varying force applied to the several parts with the greatest advantage.
My invention also consists of a new combination of levers, wheels, and springs,
within the body of the figure, and in connection with the above improvements,
whereby the desired movement of the arm and head, are automatically and
economically obtained.
I carry out these improvements in the following manner.
The frame-which forms the body of the figuro-consists of two platos held
apart by pillars, and containing the bearings of a train of wheels, the lower wheel
being driven by a coild spring and the upper one regulated by a screw and fly in
the usual way.
The pillars of this frame are secured to a long wire loop or staple, the ends of
the loop being the feet, are fixed to a suitable stand, and the round end forming the
shoulders of the figure.
On the right leg of the loop, between the pillars, is a pin or bearing, on which-
working freely-is a bent or L shaped lever, the axis being at the bend; the short
arm turned downward, and the long arm crossing to the loft side of the figure, the
internal edge of the short arm is formed into a pattern which being acted upon by
a pin or pins in one of the wheels, causes the long end to rise and fall in long or
short strokes as may be required.
Working in two bearings at the shoulders is an axle, one end of which passes to
the outside of the body, and the right arın is secured to it, and on the other end is
fixed a short spur to which a spiral spring is attached, to bear the weight of the
arm, the lower end of the spring is fastened to one end of a curved wire which forms

page_text: a moveable point for the purpose of regulating it; near the left end of the axle is
another spur, which is connected by a link to the long end of the L lever, by
which means the arm is raised, and all the actions of the figure obtained.
The head of the figuro is attached to the top of the loop by a hinge or joint,
which forms tho neck, and permits it to fall backward, but is supported in an
upright position against a stop-by the tension of a spiral spring, the upper end
of the spring is fastened to the throat, and the lower end to a moveable point some
distance down, this point is the lower end of a wire rod, the upper end being fixed
to the loop near the joint in the neck, by means of this rod the spring may be
adjusted with the greatest facility.
The right arm is in one picco down to the wrist, and the hand is there attached
to it by a joint which allows it to maintain-by gravity-the cup, spoon, or other
vessel, in an upright position when the arm is raised to the head.
When, by the action of the arm, the cup is pressed to the lips, it is tilted and the
head forced back as if in the act of drinking, and the figure takes one, or several
draughts from the cup, in accordance with the pattern formed upon the short arm.
of the shaped lever.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I WILLIAM BRITAIN of 28 Lambton Road Hornsey Rise in the County of
Middlesex Mechanical Toy Maker, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for AN, IMPROVED AUTOMATIC DRINKING FIGURE and in what manner the saino is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
My invention consists partly of an improved method of constructing and fixing,
the head and arm of any figure required to convoy-or appear to convey-drink or
food to the mouth wereby a natural action is produced by a less number of parts
than proviously used for similar purposes.
My Invention also consists of an improved method of fixing springs to the head
and arm of the said figure wereby they may be easily adjusted and their varying
force applied to the several parts with the greatest advantage.
My invention also consists of a new combination of levers wheels and springs
within the body of the figure, and in connection with the above improvements,
whereby the desired movement of the arm and head aro automatically and
economically obtained.
I carry out these improvements in the following manner.
The frame which forms the body of the figure consists of two platos a a held
apart by pillars b b and containing the bearings of a train of wheels, the lower
whool being driven by a coiled spring, and the upper one regulated by a screw and
fly in the usual way, only one wheel g of this train is shown in drawings, the others
forming no part of my invention are-to avoid complication-left out.
The pillars bb of this frame are secured to a long wire loop or staple c c the ends
of the loop at the feet are secured to a suitable stand and the round end forming
the shoulders of the figure.
On the right leg of the loop between the pillars is a pin or bearing & on which,
working freely is a bent or L shaped lever e, the axis being at the bend, the short
arm e1 turned downward and the long one e2 crossing to the left side of the
figure, the internal edge of the short arm el is formed into a pattern, which being
acted upon by a pin or pins ff in the wheel g causes the long arm e2 to rise and
fall in long or short strokes as may be required.
Working in two bearings h h at the shoulders is an axle i one end of which
passes to the outside of the body, and the right arm ; is secured to it, and on the
other end is fixed a short spur to which a spiral spring is attached, to balanco
the weight of the arm j, the lower end of the spring is attached to one end of a
curved wire m which forms a movable point for regulating it.
Near the left end of the axle i is another spur n which is connected by a link o
to the long arm of the lever c2 by which means the arm ; is raised and all the
actions of the figure obtained.
The head of the figure is attached to the top of the loop c by a hinge or joint p
which forms the neck, and permits it to fall backward, but it is supported in an
upright position against a wire stop g by the tension of a spiral spring r, the upper
end of the spring r is fastened to the throat at 8, and the lower end to a movable

page_text: g
point t some distance down, this point is the lower end of the wire stop o the upper
end being fixed to the loop cc near the joint in the neck, by means of this rod the
spring may be adjusted with the greatest facility.
The right arm is in one piece down to the wrist w and the hand x is there
attached to it by a joint which allows it-by gravity-to maintain the cup, spoon,
or other vessel in an upright position when the arm j is raised to the head.
When by the action of the arinj the cup y is pressed to the lips, it is tilted and
the head forced back as if in the act of drinking, as shewn in fig 3, and the figure
takes one or several draughts from the cup in accordance with the pattern formed
upon the short arm of the bent lever c.
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 The construction of the head, arm, and hand of any figure required to convey
-or appear to convey-drink, or food to the mouth substantially as described.
2nd The method of fixing and adjusting springs to the various parts of the said
figure substantially as described.
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