Improvements in Apparatus or Mechanism for Communicating to Toys Movements Analogous to those of Human Beings and Animals when Walking.
Year: 1887

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus or Mechanism for Communicating to
Toys Movements Analogous to those of Human Beings and
Animals when Walking.
--
I, SERAPHIN FERNAND MARTIN of 90 Boulevard Menilmontant, Paris France,
Practical Mechanic do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
My invention refers to apparatus or mechanism for working jointed toys by
imparting to them movements analogus to the natural movements of human beings
and animals when walking.
The invention substantially consists in the combination with a suitable motor, of
apparatus or mechanism placed either in the body or in the limbs of the figure or
subject and arranged in such manner that the different parts work reciprocally and
successively.
A motor of any suitable kind gives to the subject a pushing movement or one of
constant traction, this movement is or may be transmitted by a carriage between the
shafts of which a jointed toy man may be placed.
The extremities or feet of the figure represented, terminate, so as to produce on the
ground a certain amount of adherence either by means of a heel piece or spike, or in
any other suitable manner. The upper part of the legs are jointed on a bent or
cranked shaft and they are provided with slots or guide grooves of form and arrange-
ment varying with the nature of the subject to be worked and the movement desired
to be produced; these grooves travel over a fixed pin so that by sliding along the pin
the movement of the members or limbs is regulated.
The mechanism works in the following manner.
The motor being in motion causes the figure to advance along the ground but by
reason of the heels or spikes the leg which is in advance of the other is stopped, the
advance movement continuing in spite of that, it will be understood that the leg whic'i

page_text: is on the ground with the heel or spike has a tendency to straighten and so acts on the
crank or bent shaft, and turns same thereby bringing the other leg into a position
identical with the first, and after having made it travel a distance resembling a natural
step through the slot and from its position in relation to the cranked shaft.
As I have before stated the figures represented may vary immensely but the invention
is especially applicable to representations of human beings and animals.
As applied to quadrupeds the limbs may be connected in any convenient way
and the motor mechanism for the legs or supports need only be applied to one of
their parts.
The driving mechanism may be in a box which may be hidden or disguised in
any desired manner or it may be fitted between the sides of the figure or subject to be
worked.

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus or Mechanism for Communicating to
Toys Movements Analogous to those of Human Beings and
Animals when Walking.
I, SERAPHIN FERNAND MARTIN of 90 Boulevard Menilmontant, Paris, France,
Practical Mechanic 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 :--
My invention refers to a new kind of toys having a translation movement produced
by any suitable motor and in which toys there is a miniature figure whether that be
of a human being or animal imitating the natural movements of walking without
special mechanism and without mechanical transmission.
This invention principally consists in the combination with a vehicle or any desired
object having a translation movement by the action of any (suitable) motor of a
miniature figure (preferably that representing a man) arranged in such manner that
the legs are worked reciprocally and successively by the simple fact of the application
of a progressive point of support on any suitable surface whatever.
In order to better understand my invention I have in the accompanying drawing
shewn an example of a toy constructed according to my invention.
In the drawing I have supposed that the motor is placed in a carriage and that the
object to be worked is represented by a man having the appearance of drawing it,
but it is evident that I reserve to myself the right of adopting any other subject and
of applying any motor deemed suitable whether it be a mechanical motor or pushed
or drawn by the hand &c.
In my drawing, Figure 1 shews a side view of the whole toy constructed according
to my invention. Figure 2 is a longitudinal section. Figure 3 shews on an enlarged
scale, and in side elevation, the arrangement by which the movement of the legs of
the subject is obtained.
Figure 4 is a transverse section of this arrangement.
In these figures the same letters of reference indicate the same parts.
a is any suitable sort of motor which gives to the toy ba continuous translation move-
ment, this movement in the example given in the drawing, is a pushing movement of
the carriage d on the subject 6. The extremities of the legs of the subject aro
terminated so as to produce on the ground sufficient adherence either by means of a
pointed heel piece fas shewn or in any other manner. The upper part of the two legs
are mounted on a bent or cranked axle g and they are provided with slots or guide
grooves of form and arrangement varying with the nature of the subject to be
worked and the movement desired to be produced. These grooves embrace (or travel)
over a fixed pin i and the effect is such that by the combined action of the movement
of the vehicle and the abutting point furnished alternately by each leg on the ground
determines exactly the movement of the members.
The mechanism works in the following manner.

page_text: The motor a being in motion pushes the subject b, tending to cause it to slide on
the ground, but owing to the arrangement of the heels f, the leg which is in advance
is retained there for a moment and as the advance movement continues in spite of this
it will be understood that the leg which rests on the ground by the heel has a tendency
to become straight and acts on the crank axle g causing it to turn, whereby the other
leg is brought into a position identical with that occupied by the previous leg and in
this way a new abutting point is furnished, and after having covered so much of the
road as is determined by the form of the groove h and its position in relation to the
bent shaft. At this moment the second leg acts to work or operate the first as before
explained with reference to it.
As before stated the nature of the subjects may vary indefinitely but I specially
reservo to myself the power of applying the invention to miniature figures of men or
animals. The bent axis which unites the legs is mounted in a box k which can be
covered in any suitable manner or it may even be fitted inside the subject to be
worked.
It should be remarked that according to my invention or system the two legs of the
subject being brought parallel to the side of one another, there is only one which rests
on the ground, the second being necessarily raised for it is evident that the two
abutment points, that is the heel pieces can never be simultaneously on the ground.
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 I am aware of
Hall's Specification No. 6470 A.D. 1884 and I make no claim to anything described
and claimed therein, but what I claim is :-
A kind of toy with miniature figure (preferably of a man) the legs of which imitate
the natural movements of walking by the combined action of a motor vehicle having a
continuous translation motion and abutting point placing itself alternately on any
suitable surface, in such manner that retaining one leg an instant on the ground and
the movement of translation continuing this abutting point forces the leg in contact
with the ground to incline itself thus giving a movement similar but in the reverso
sense to the second leg with which it is connected by a bent or cranked axle.
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