Improvements in Toys.
Year: 1898

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Toys.
I, ALBERT CARL FABER, of 4, Kurzestrasse, Stuttgart, in the Empire of
Germany, 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:-
-
a
The colour changing toy shown in the accompanying drawings which forms
the object of the present invention consists essentially of a double conical hollow
body with a conical case fitted thereon thus forming spinning top, or it con-
sists of a wind wheel with discs arranged before it, or simply of two discs lying
one over the other, one of which i.e. either the upper or the under part, has a
series of colours whilst the upper one has pieces cut out. If the under part of
a colour changing toy combined in this or a similar manner be set in rotation
by means of any source of power, it carries with it by means of friction the
perforated part placed over, before, or on, the same, but rotating independently
of it to a slower extent, and thus a changing series of colours is produced by the
varying action of the rotations.
Both kinds of colour changing toys in their multiple forms of construction,
the one in the form of a double conical body in two parts and the other consisting
of two discs placed one above the other will now be separately hereafter described.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figures 1 and 2 show in elevation and partial vertical section respectively a
form of construction of a colour changing device in the shape of a top to be
spun by means of a cord, spring or the like.
In this top the part of the body A previously mentioned which carries with it
the other part, has its upper half A painted with various colours whilst the
part which is carried with it has the form of a case or cover B freely swung
and revolubly suspended on the axis of rotation a of the top and provided with
slots or perforations b such as more particularly shown in plan view in Figure 3.
The bell B rests on a collar a¹, Figure 2, of the axis or spindle a and is secured
against being drawn off by means of a ring a³, a cap or other suitable device.
The ring a is here merely an india rubber ring which rests in a groove of the
spindle a. After drawing off this ring as the bell B as well as the collar a¹ may
be drawn off the spindle a and the colours of the upper part of A may be changed
by placing thereon a coloured cover C Figure 4 of paper or other suitable
material. A groove a³ serves in place of the usual hole for engaging the cord
which is to-be wound thereon in order to spin the top.
If the top be spun and released, the bell will oscillate in consequence of the
usual oscillations of the top to and fro against the spindle a and strike there-
fore now and again with its edge 61 against the edge A2 of the body of the top.
After each such contact the position of the bell B to the body A is changed by
which in consequence of friction on the ring a¹ it is carried with it with equal

page_text: speed, so that, after each striking, the opening 6 will come to stand over another
coloured part of the part A' and thus different colours affording a vivid play of
colours are always visible to the eye of the beholder.
For releasing or spinning the top, the forked holder shown in Figure 5 is
preferably employed, the arms D 11 of said fork being provided with recesses d
to receive the spindle a of the top and having a tendency to constantly spring
apart.
It is therefore only necessary, after drawing the cord off the top inserted in
the fork, to release the arms D D¹ of the fork, previously compressed by the
hand, whereupon the fork will automatically open and the top spring out of the-
same.
Figures 6 and 7 show in a front elevation and partial vertical section the
arrangement of the play of colours for a wind wheel. Here in a similar manner
the case or fan wheel E which carries the other part with it is provided with
openings or cut out sections e. It is firmly mounted on the axle e¹ with a
disc F, whilst the disc G carrying the different colours oscillates between the
parts E and F and is carried round by friction on the axle e¹.
The action is in this case in principle the same as in the top herein before
described. The coloured disc G usually travels with equal speed to the discs E F
but changes its position to the parts E or F after each encounter with the same
caused by its oscillation so that always fresh colours are visible through the
openings e.
In this case the disc F may also be provided with slots and disc G' may be
painted on both sides and then a double varied play of colours may be obtained
with the same apparatus.
The play of colours shown in Figures 8 and 9 consists of a brightly painted
disc H which is set in rotation in any suitable manner, which may be done as
in the example shown by suspending the disc by means of a pin h fixed in its
centre on a cord 41 and then revolving the latter in the usual way. A second
disc but provided with slots or openings i is laid on this disc H, after placing
the ring between them, in such a way as to be freely revoluble on the pin h
If then the disc H be rotated by gripping the wheel which is firmly mounted
on the pin h between the thumb and the middle or fore finger and spinning the
same in the ordinary manner, the disc H will carry the disc J by friction with
it but does not impart to it as swift a rotation as it itself possesses. The disc J
therefore lags a little behind the disc H and thus constantly changes its relative
position to the same and thus always fresh colours appear through the slots i in
a slow succession which gives a very pretty play of colours.
The disc J however wobbles also a little on the pin h and therefore more
frequently encounters with its outer edge the disc H. At the moment of such
an encounter the disc J receives from the disc H a powerful impulse so that it
constantly commences to travel more rapidly and thus again changes its relative
position to the disc H in a way which again produces a movement in the succes-
sion, duration of being visible, or the like of the colours of the colour toy.
The herein before described colour toy may also be advantageously employed
with the well known whipping tops which are spun by means of a whip, Figures 10
to 13. Here a number of different colours are painted on the upper surface of
the usual conical shaped top L, or a special coloured paper or the like N may
be fixed thereon. An apertured disc M is so arranged over this coloured layer
or coloured paper in such a way as to rotate on the top but so that it cannot be
removed from the same. Preferably the disc M is laid in a recess in the top so
that if the top L falls over or strikes anything the disc M is protected from
injury.
If a fresh impulse be imparted to the top by means of the whip, the disc M
does not reach immediately the same speed as the top and a fresh play of colours
always appears in such cases.
As already mentioned the play of colours may be carried out in many other

page_text: ways without altering the essence of the invention or exceeding the scope of the
present invention. Thus for instance the changing of the positions of one body
to the other may be effected in a regular mechanical way by means of gearings
or transfer mechanism or the like which is preferably to be employed more
particularly for larger changes of colours such as for instance advertising
purposes.
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. An improved toy or device for exhibiting a play of colours, consisting of
two bodies (A and B) one of which (B) is provided with apertures (b) and is
arranged to freely revolve and oscillate on the other in such a way that it covers
the surface of the other body (A) which is provided with various colours, so that
the latter body (A) when set in rotation carries with it by friction the apertured
body (B) which however constantly changes its position relative to the same in
consequence of oscillations and of encountering the coloured body (A), whereby
there always becomes visible to the spectator through the apertures (b) a fresh
part of the coloured body (A) and therefore constant change of colours, substan-
tially as described.
2. A form of construction of the colour toy hereinbefore described, adapted
as a top, in which the body A which carries with it the other or apertured body B
is formed as a top adapted to be set in rotation by hand by means of a cord,
spring or the like, and the apertured body which is carried with it consists of
a case or cover (B) suspended over the body of the top on the top spindle (w) to
oscillate and revolve freely thereon and having slots or apertures (b) substan-
tially as described with reference to, Figures 1 and 3 of the accompanying
drawings.
3. A form of construction of the top hereinbefore described in which the
colouring of the surface (A) of the body of the top situated under the revoluble
case or cover (B) may be suitably altered by placing thereon various coloured
covers (C) of paper or the like substantially as described with reference to
Figures 2 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
4. In combination with a top such as herein before described, of a fork for
spinning the same, characterized by two arms (D D¹) springing apart which are
adapted when pressed together to embrace at both ends the spindle (a) of the
top so that the top can be set in rotation between these arms, and whereby on
the release of the arms (D D¹) they will automatically open and allow the
wound-up top to spring out of the fork substantially as described with reference
to Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.
5. A form of construction of the colour toy or device herein before described
adapted as a wind wheel (E) with slots or apertures (e) arranged therein, on
the spindle (e) of which there is fixed a disc (F) which if desired may also be
provided with slots, whilst between the wheel (E) and the disc (F) a coloured
disc (G) is placed on the spindle (e) to freely revolve and oscillate which
coloured disc is carried along with the spindle both by friction and by striking
against the parts (E and F) and thus constantly changes its position to the
latter so that thereby new colours will constantly appear through the slots in
the wheel (E) and if so arranged also through the disc (F), whereby a play of
colours is attained substantially as described with reference to Figures 6 and 7
of the accompanying drawings.
6. A_colour_toy or device consisting of two flat independently revoluble
discs (H and J), one of which (H) is variously coloured and is rotated by any
suitable means while the second (J) has slots or apertures (2) and is carried along
with the coloured disc (H) at changing speeds by friction, its relative position
to the coloured disc (HI) being constantly changed whereby different colours
on the coloured disc (H) are constantly rendered visible through the slots (2)

page_text: of the apertured disc (J) substantially as described with reference to Figures 8
and 9 of the accompanying drawings.
as the
7. A form of construction of the colour toy or device hereinbefore described
adapted as an ordinary whipping top, the upper surface which serves
show surface of the usual conical shaped top being provided with various colours
or having a special colour disc stuck thereon, and a loosely revoluble disc being
mounted thereon over the same and provided with various apertures substan-
tially as described with reference to Figures 10 to 13 of the accompanying
drawings.
.
3 1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.