A Toy Rowing Boat.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 12th June, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 18th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 19th Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by GEORGE GROESSER, of Frankfort-on-the-Main,
in the German Empire, Merchant.]
A Toy Rowing Boat.
I, ERNEST DE PASS, of 78 Fleet Street, in the City of London, Fellow of the
Institute of Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
:-
This invention relates to the construction of a toy in the form of a rowing boat
in which the figure acting as oarsman or sculler is so arranged as to accomplish
the usual rowing movements at more or less regular intervals, as soon as the boat
is moved upon a plane surface by means of a cord or string which is wound upon a
small board or upon a roller, so that the winding on with both hands can only be
effected backwardly, which is natural to childrens hands.
The boat is constructed with a flat bottom, and the mimic rower, which is placed
therein, has its legs firmly glued or rivetted to the boat and connected by a pin to
the body of the rower. This body is so arranged as to bend forwards and
backwards upon this pin and within a notch in the legs, in the natural manner, this
movement being limited at back by a stop. The arms turn upon pins fixed to the
body and the hands are secured to the oars by means of wire loops. Instead of
the oars moving upon thole pins, they are secured at the junction of the rowlock
stays by a spiral spring, or a twisted indiarubber cord. To each of the handles
of the oars is fixed a cord or string, the other ends of which are connected to
another string or cord which, after passing through an eyelet on the boat is
attached to the board or roller, which is placed at a suitable distance from
the boat.
When the cord or string is drawn by turning or winding it upon the roller, the
rower is first moved into a nearly vertical position, in consequence of the adhesion
of the boat upon the surface of a table, or floor, which adhesion is increased by
roughening the bottom of the said boat. The resistance developed by the rower
leaning against the stop then overcomes this adhesion and the boat is set in motion,
the tension of the cord or string being released. In consequence of this relaxation
the resiliency of the indiarubber cord now comes into action and restores the two
oars to their former position and with them the arms and body of the rower.
At
cach intentional or unintentional irregularity in the winding up of the cord or
string, the boat will come to a standstill and the rowing action will recommence.
Instead of one, several oarsmen may be arranged in the same boat and may be
set in regular motion by the same cord or string, provided the adhesion of the boat
upon the floor, or table, is correspondingly increased.
Dated this 10th 1...
L1001
5
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Toy Rowing Boat.
I, ERNEST DE PASS, of 78 Fleet Street in the City of London, Fellow of the
Chartered Institute of Patent Agents 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, reference being had to the
accompanying drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that
is to say :-
This invention relates to the construction of a toy, in the form of a rowing boat

page_text: in which the figure representing the rower is so arranged as to accomplish the
usual rowing movements at more or less regular intervals when the boat is drawn
along on a plane surface by means of a cord or string, said cord or string being
wound upon a small board, or upon a roller, so that the winding on with both
hands can be effected backwardly as is natural to children.
In the accompanying drawings which illustrate my improved toy rowing boat;
Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing the position of the rower at the completion of
a stroke; and
Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the position of the rower at the commencement
of. a stroke.
Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views showing a mode of connecting the oars with the
rowlocks.
a is the boat having a flat bottom, in which the mimic rower is placed. The
legs are firmly secured to the boat by glue, or solder, and are connected to the
body by means of a pin . The body fits into a notch or socket formed in
the legs and is capable of rocking backwards and forwards upon the pin in a
natural manner, this movement being limited by the back d of the seat. The
arms e turn upon pins el fixed to the body, and the hands are secured to the oars
by means of wire loops. Instead of the oars moving upon thole pins they are
secured at the junction of the rowlock stays g, g', by a spiral spring, or a twisted
india rubber thread m (Figs. 3 and 4). To each of the handles of the oars (where
held by the oarsman) is attached a cord or string h, the other ends of which are
connected at point i to another string or cord h¹ of any desired length which, after
passing through an eye on the boat, is attached to the board or roller l.
When the cord or string is wound up by revolving the board or roller 1, the
rower is first brought into the position indicated at Fig. 1, in consequence of the
adhesion of the boat upon the surface of the table, or the floor, and which adhesion
may be increased by roughening the bottom of the boat. The resistance developed
by the rower leaning against the back d of the seat overcomes this adhesion and
the boat is caused to move forward, thereby relaxing the tension of the string. In
consequence of this relaxation the resilience of the india rubber thread m now
comes into action and restores both oars, and with them the arms and body of the
rower, to their normál position as shown in Fig. 2.
Instead of one, several rowers may be arranged in the same boat, and may be set
in regular motion by the same cord or string, provided the adhesion of the boat
upon the floor, or table, be correspondingly increased.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A toy rowing boat, in which the rower is retained, by means of a spring, in
an attitude corresponding to the commencement of a stroke, but is brought into an
attitude corresponding to the completion of the stroke by a pull, effected upon a
cord, or string, and which pull at the same time causes the boat to move forward,
substantially as described.
2. My improved toy rowing boat, as herein described and as shown with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
Dated thin 10th tow of N 1001