A New or Improved Aerial Toy.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Apr., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 4th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 6th Feb., 1897
A New or Improved Aerial Toy.
JOHN EDWARD LIVSEY 34 Octavia Street Buttersea S.W. Engineer, Demonstrator
in Mechanics and Mathematics R.C.S. London do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This toy is designed for the amusement of children and consists of a parachute
which may take the form of a bird, animal or any other pleasing or grotesque
shape.
The parachute is enclosed in a sphere cylinder or box of any desired shape,
which on being thrown by hand or projected by apparatus into the air opens and
allows the parachute to spread; thereby falling to the earth slowly. The time of
opening of the sphere cylinder or box is regulated by means of an elastic or other
band wound round or passed through a peg or pegs, and by such similar devices;
the number of turns of the band round the peg being varied according to the
height to which the toy can be thrown or projected. The spread of the parachute
is aided by means of a spring or springs, which are compressed or extended by
forcing the material of the parachute into and bringing the parts of the sphoro
cylinder or box together. I make these said springs preferably of elastic or india-
rubber, but they may be made of any other suitable material such as metal, cane
whale-bone and such like substances. The sphere cylinder or box is constructed
in two or more parts which may be hinged or not, and made of any material
combining sufficient strength with lightness compared to enclosed volume. These
conditions being fulfilled by making it of celluloid, paper, wood or thin metal such
as tinned plate steel aluminium and such like. The sphere oylinder or box may
be smooth or have its surface corrugated when otherwise not of sufficient thickness
to afford the requisite amount of rigidity. The toy may be thrown into the air by
hand or projected by means of a spring-gun; air-gun or pistol, or by means of a
cross-bow, or again the toy may be made in the form of an arrow and projected
by means of a bow. When made in the form of an arrow the parachute is attached
to a stick rod or cylinder, and enclosed by or folded about the arrow; the opening
of the parachute being aided by means of springs released in the manner previously
described. The parachute is commonly attached to the sphere cylinder or box but
it may be made so that on opening they seperate and fall independently of each
other.
A New or Improved Aerial Toy.
I, JOHN EDWARD LIVSEY, of the Royal College of Science, London, Engineer
and Domonstrator in Mechanics and Mathematics, 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 statomont :-
This toy is designed for the amusement of children and consists of a parachute

page_text: which may take the form of a bird or animal or any other pleasing or grotesque
shape. The parachute is enclosed in a sphere, cylinder, or box of any desired shape
which on being thrown by hand or projected by apparatus into the air opens and
allows the parachute to spread thereby falling to the earth slowly. The time of
opening of the sphere, oylinder, or box is regulated by means of an elastic or other
band wound round or passed through a peg or pegs and by such similar devices; the
number of turns of the band round the peg being varied according to the height to
which the toy can be thrown or projected. The spread of the parachute is aided
by means of a spring or springs which are compressed or extended by forcing the
material of the parachute into and bringing the parts of the sphere, cylinder or box
together.
I make these said springs preferably of elastic or india rubber but they may be
made of any suitable material such as metal, cane, whalebone and such like substances.
The sphero, cylinder or box is constructed in two or more parts which may be hinged
or not and mudo of any material combining sufficient strength with lightnoss
compared to enclosed volume. These conditions being fulfilled by making it of
celluloid, paper, wood, or thin metal such as tinued plate, steel, aluminium, and such
like. The sphero, cylinder or box may be smooth or have its surface corrugated when
otherwise not of sufficient thickness to afford the requisite amount of rigidity.
.
The toy may be thrown into the air by hand or projected by means of a catapult,
spring gun, nir gun or pistol, or by means of a cross how, or again the toy may be
mado in the form of an arrow and projected by means of a bow; when made in the
form of an arrow the parachute is attached to a stick, rod or cylinder and enclosed by
or folded about the arrow; the opening of the parachute being aided by means of
springs released in the manner previously described.
The parachnto is commonly attached to the sphere, cylinder or box but it may be
made so that on opening they separate and fall independently of each other.
In the accompanying two sheets of drawings
Figures 1 to 6 are views of the receptacle in which the parachute is confined whilst
being thrown or projected into the air, and
Figure 7 is a view of the parachute as it appears when spread and falling to the
earth.
Figures 8, 9 and 10, and Figures 11, 12, 13 and 14 are views of two alternative
forms of receptacles and parachutes.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout tho several views.
In the construction illustrated, by Figs. 1 to 7,- designates the body or main part
of the receptacle which in this case is made in three pieces, the other two parts a³ a
being pivoted at b to the main part a'. The parts at a have elastic strips c attached to
them and at the other ends to the part a' in such a way that these elastic strips c
act as springs and always tend to draw the parts a' a' down into, the position shown
best in Fig. 3. When drawn together to close the receptacle as shown in Figs. 1
and 2 the parts a' a' are temporarily held together by a piece of elastic d on one
part wound round a pin e on the other part. The parachute is secured by elastic
or cords g to the body a' and when packed into the receptacle as shown in Figs. 2
and 5, it prosses down a platform composed of elastic strips h secured to the sides
of the body a' or otherwise compresses or extends auy convenient arrangement of
springs which when released will expel the parachute from the receptacle.
In the construction illustrated by Figs. 8, 9 and 10 the receptacle is made in
five pieces the box or body a' and the lid aa aa. The parts a a³ are connected
together by elastic strips c and the parts aa by similar strips which also tend
to hold them in the position shown in Fig. 9. When the parachute has been
pressed into the box the four parts a aa' a' are drawn together as shown in
Fig. 10 and temporarily held by a strip of elastic d' wrapped round the four pins e.
In the construction illustrated by Figs. 11, 12, 13, 14, the receptacle is made
in three parts a' u² a hinged together at one end by a spring hinge b or otherwise
provided with springs which will cause the parts normally to assume the position
shown best in plau, Fig. 12. When brought together the parts a' a' a form a

page_text: cylinder as shown in Figs. 13 and 14 and are temporarily held together by a strip
of elastic d wrapped round the three pins e. The parachute f is packed into this
cylinder and is forced out by springs as in the previous constructions.
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 what I
claim is :-
1. The combination with a receptacle made in two or more pieces and means
for temporarily closing the same, of a parachute arranged to be packed into said
receptacle, and springs for opening the receptacle and ejecting the parachute after-
the same has been thrown or projected into the air.
2. The several constructions combinations and arrangements of parts constituting.
a new or improved aerial toy substantially as heroin set forth.
Dated this 1st day of December 1896.
H. B. BARLOW & GILLETT,
17 St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for Applicant.