Improvements in Toys.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Nov., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 2nd July, 1898-Accepted, 15th Oct., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Toys.
I, LAURA BIDDLE, 75, Princess Street, Leicester, married woman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to aquatic toys and is designed chiefly though not
exclusively with the object of producing an automatic swimming duck the
actuating mechanism however is applicable to other toys for aquatic purposes.
The actuating mechanism is contained within the body or casing of the duck
or toy and according to one form of construction comprises two webbed feet
underneath the body which have a rocking motion communicated to them.
The legs from the said feet pass upwards into the body and are connected by
a crosshead to which is fixed a connecting rod, eccentrically attached to a wheel
or disc mounted on a spindle and driven through the medium of a train of wheels
which receive their motion from a ratchet controlled spring, the spindle of which
may project through the casing to permit the barrel of the key to enter for wind-
ing purposes.
Or the whole of the mechanism may be enclosed within a suitable casing the lid
of which may be made removable for winding purposes.
In some cases the web feet may be substituted by rotary paddle wheels, feet
or equivalent connected by a spindle having thereon a toothed wheel gearing
with a similar wheel on one of the spindles of the actuating clock mechanism.
The details of construction may be modified in various respects and the
mechanism applied to other toys than a duck within the scope of the invention.
Dated this 2nd day of November 1897.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Toys.
I, Laura Biddle, of Franklyn Lodge, Newtown, Unthank, in the County of
Leicester, formerly of 75, Princess Street, Leicester, married woman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention has reference to aquatic toys and is designed with the object
of producing an automatic swimming bird (preferably a duck or swan).
The said toy may be provided with reciprocating webbed feet underneath it
or with a rotary paddle or wheel on each side actuated by suitable connections
and clock mechanism within the body or casing of the toy as hereinafter described.
TD 977

page_text: The invention will be fully understood from the following further description
in reference to the accompanying drawings wherein,
Figure 1 is a plan of an aquatic toy or automatic swimming duck with webbed
feet, constructed in accordance with this invention, the upper part of the body
casing being removed to expose the actuating mechanism in the interior thereof.
Figure 2 is a similar plan of a modification.
Figure 2 is an elevation of one of the rotary paddles.
Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line X X of Figure 1 with the addition
of the cover.
Figure 3 is a transverse section of one of the webbed feet.
Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of the complete aquatic toy.
Like letters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the figures.
Referring to the drawings, A represents the casing or body of the toy or bird
and B the imitation web feet of the same which are reciprocated or rocked to
and fro in imitation of those of a swimming bird.
and convex
These feet consist of thin metallic plates with slightly concave
surfaces (Figure 3) the latter being fixed on the legs so as to face in the direction
the toy travels.
The said plates are attached to the legs B₁ consisting of wire rods cranked
optionally as shown and passing through slots formed in the bottom of the casing
and upwards through rectangular passages or channels C¹ Figure 1 formed
between vertical plates C whose lower ends are soldered around the slots in the
bottom of the casing.
These plates extend upwards interiorly of the casing nearly to the full height
of the latter and thereby prevent the water getting inside the casing when the
toy is being used on the water.
The legs are pivotted at B2 between the plates C and are connected to each
other at their upper ends by a crosshead D to which is attached one end of a
connecting rod E the other end of the latter being attached to a link F which is
mounted on one of the driving arbors G of clock mechanism H.
Instead of the link F, a wheel or disc may be mounted on the arbor G and the
end of the connecting rod E fitted eccentrically on the said wheel or disc.
The framing J forming the bearings for the various arbors of the clock
mechanism may be fixed to the body casing of the toy by rivets J¹ or other means.
By the above description and reference being had to the accompanying draw-
ings it will readily be seen that upon the clock mechanism being wound by turn-
ing the wing nut L in the usual manner the connecting rod will be actuated to
and fro by the link and thereby impart a reciprocating motion to the legs and
feet of the toy to propel it when in water, in imitation of a bird swimming.
In the modification shown in Figure 2 the legs and feet are dispensed with and
substituted by rotary paddles M or a paddle wheel.
One each of the latter is located at each side of the body casing and mounted
on the end of a spindle or shaft N which has bearings in the casing and projects
through the latter, and carries also intermediately a toothed wheel O which is
driven by gearing with one of the wheels H' of clock mechanism H.
Upon the clock mechanism being wound as hereinbefore described the wheel O
and the paddles M which propel the toy when placed in water, are revolved.
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 automatic swimming toy bird in which the reciprocating motion of
the legs and feet is derived from clock mechanism and suitable intermediate
connecting mechanism.
2. In an automatic swimming toy bird, the combination with the legs movably
pivotted within the body casing, of a connecting rod attached thereto and clock

page_text: mechanism for operating the latter to reciprocate the legs and feet of the toy
bird substantially as described.
3. In an automatic swimming toy bird the combination with the feet B and
legs B₁ of a crosshead D, connecting rod E and clock mechanism for driving the
latter substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. In an automatic swimming toy bird the combination with the feet and
legs B B of rectangular passages C formed within the body casing to permit
working of the legs without allowing ingress of water to the interior of the
casing, a connecting rod attached to the upper end of the legs and clock mechanism
to actuate the said rod substantially as and for the purpose described.
5. In an automatic swimming toy bird the combination of a rotary paddle M
or wheel on each side thereof, a spindle N passing through the body casing and
upon the external ends of which the paddles are mounted, a toothed wheel O on
the said spindle and clock mechanism for driving the said toothed wheel sub-
stantially as described.
6. The improved automatic swimming toy bird, constructed, arranged and
operating substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 1, 3, 3 and 4
of the accompanying drawings.
7. The improved automatic swimming toy bird, constructed, arranged and
operating substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 2 and 2 of the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 1st day of July 1898.
Witness:
E. N. LEWIS,
Berridge Street Chambers, Leicester.
LAURA BIDDLE.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.