An Amusing Toy.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Apr., 1894-Accepted, 12th May, 1894
PRUV ISIŪNAL SI MUIFICATION.
An Amusing Toy.
I THOMAS PARKES of 52 Wellington Road Bilston, Staffordshire, Commission
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
I make a box from any kind of suitable material. I then place two human or'
animal figures opposite to each other in a groove of suitable length made along the
top in the centre of the box. The width of the aforesaid groove is made to suit
the size of the figures used.
When the figures are properly placed the underpart of each passes through the
groove and is then connected with the internal arrangement.. then put a knob
ring, or handle at one end of the box, then I pull the same and cause (by the
internal arrangement) each figure to approach or recede from the other; as in
the act of kissing, fighting etc. The figures may be made of paper pasteboard,
wood brass, copper, tin, iron or from any other kind of suitable material.
The internal arrangement by which the movement of the figures is caused
consists, conveniently, of a rod or wire passing from the handle at one end of the
box to the further figure, by means of which as the handle is pulled outwards such
figure is pulled inwards; of a flexible connector, such as a piece of tape, which is
connected at one end with a part of such rod or wire and passes thence forwards,
or in a direction away from the handle, and returns around a stud fixed within the
box, or around a friction roller carried by such stud, and is connected at its other
end with the other figure of the pair, and by means of which the outward
movement of the handle which causes the inward movement of the figure with
which the rod or wire is connected causes the inward movement also of the other
figure; and of a spring, which may conveniently consist of a piece of elastic, which
is utilized in drawing back the figure to which one end of the flexible connector. is
connected, and consequently in drawing back also, through the medium of the
flexible connector aforesaid, the rod or wire, and the other figure, when the
handle ceases to be held outwards after it has been pulled out to draw the figures
towards one another.
The internal arrangement may, however, be varied considerably in detail, as
will be obvious to a mechanician; and, if desired, the outward movement may be
caused by the operator and the inward movement be caused by a spring; or both
the outward and inward movement may be caused by the operator.
Dated this 4th day of November 1893.
THOMAS PARKES.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Amusing Toy.
I, THOMAS PARKES, of 52 Wellington Road, Bilston Staffordshire, Commission
Agent 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:-
The object of this invention is the production of a toy in which two figures,
representing human beings or animals, or the busts or upper portions thereof,
may be moved towards and from one another, to convey the idea of kissing,
fighting etc

page_text: •
According to this invention, the figures are carried by a box, raised platform or
frame, in a manner which permits of their being moved towards and from one
another, and are combined with mechanism by means of which their to-and-fro
movements are caused.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood I will describe the same
with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example,
convenient practical methods of carrying it out. The method of carrying out the
main or leading idea or feature of the invention may, however, be varied
considerably in detail as will be readily seen.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a toy constructed according to this
invention, Figure 2 is a section on line x of Figure 1 through the box hereinafter
described, shewing one of the moving figures in edge view, the mechanism herein-
after described being omitted for simplicity; and Figure 3 is a view as seen
looking up into the interior of the box, of which the bottom is supposed to be
removed.
The figures A B represent the busts or upper portions of human beings (or
they may be made to represent animals, such as dogs or tigers in the attitude of
fighting). The figures are carried by a box C. A slot a is formed through the
top of the box at the middle thereof and extends from end to end, as shewn.
The box is formed conveniently of sheet metal, such as tinplate, and the top is
formed with the edges thereof on each side of the slot a turned down at right
angles to form inward flanges b. These flanges form the sides of the slot.
The figures A B are also conveniently made of sheet metal, such as tinplate, and
are each carried by the box C in a manner which allows of their being readily
slid along the slot a by means of suitable mechanism contained within the box.
For this purpose each figure is formed with a portion c which passes through the
slot. This portion c is cranked out somewhat from the portion of the figure above.
it, so as to leave a shoulder d by means of which the figure rests on the upper
edge of one side of the slot and slides along such edge as the figure is moved. In
order to keep the figures securely in the slot a, and at the same time allow of their
being moved therealong, the lower end e of the portion c of each figure is bent so
as to pass under the lower edge of one of the flanges and, preferably, for a short
distance up the back thereof also. To the lower end e of one of the figures, namely
of the figure A in the arrangement illustrated, is connected, by soldering or
otherwise, one end of a rod or wire f, of which the other end passes out through
the opposite end of the box and is formed as, or has attached thereto, a knob ring
or other form of handle g. A flexible connector h, which may conveniently
consist of a piece of tape, is connected at one end with the lower end e of the
figure B and passes thence in a direction towards the other figure, and returns
around a stud or guide i, or preferably around a friction roller carried thereby,
and is connected at its other end with the rod or wire f. The figure Bis
pulled in an outward direction, that is in a direction away from the figure A,
by means of a spring. This spring may conveniently consist of a piece of elastick,
which is fastened at one end to the end of the box and at its other end to the
figure B. In order, however, to give the necessary length to the spring, its inner
end is not fixed direct to the figure but to the outer or forward end of an arm l
which is fixed thereto. The connector his conveniently fastened to the inner end
of the arm l, as shewn. It will now be readily understood that if the knob is
pulled the figure A will be moved inwards, and the figure B also, as the pull of
the rod or wire f is transmitted to the figure B through the connector h. The
figures A and B may thus be drawn close together. The forward movement
of the figure B of course distends the spring k, and such figure is automatically
drawn back by the reaction of the spring when the knob g ceases to be held
outwards; and the backward movement of the figure B causes, through the
medium of the connector h, the return of the rod or wire and of the figure A
also. In the special arrangement of mechanism illustrated, therefore, the figures
are drawn towards one another by pulling the knob, and are automatically caused
.
g

page_text: to recede from one another by the reaction of the spring. A frame or a platform.
raised by suitable supports may be substituted for the box above described, the
mechanism for operating the figures being in such case within the frame or
underneath the platform.
The mechanism above described for causing the movements of the figures towards
and from one another has been described by way of example and as shewing a.
convenient means of causing the movements of the figures. It will be obvious,
however, to a mechanician that the mechanism for the purpose may be varied
considerably in detail. If desired, the outward movement of the figures may be
caused by the operator, and the inward movement be caused by a spring; or both
the outward and inward movements may, of course, be caused by the operator, such
being readily accomplished according to a convenient method by substituting for
the spring above described a flexible connector passing from the lower end of the
figure B in an outward direction and returning around a guide and having its
return end fixed to the rod or wire for to the lower end of the figure A.
A modification of the invention consists in an arrangement of two figures of
which one only is moved, or one only at a time, towards and from the other. In
such modification, suitable means of causing the movements of the moving figure-
will be obvious without need for special description.
An adaptation of the invention to a money box is illustrated by Figure 4, which
is a longitudinal section through the box shewing the moving figures and
mechanism in side elevation. The figures are operated towards one another by the
insertion of a coin through the top of the box, and the figures are automatically
moved apart by gravity as the coin falls clear of the mechanism.
The figures A and B are pivoted at m n, respectively, in position between two-
inward flanges b forming the sides of a slot corresponding to the slot a before
described which extends longitudinally along the centre of the top of a box C from
one end to the other. Normally the figures A B are in the horizontal position.
shewn by full lines, the outer ends resting upon the stops o o, and the top of the
box is thus clear. Each figure has a projection p formed as a rounded nosing
extending inwards from the fulcrum, and the figures are raised from the horizontal
position into their standing position, shewn by broken lines, by pressing a coin D
of such size as the mechanism is constructed to be operated by (say a penny) upon
the projections pp, whereby the projections are turned down into their position
indicated by broken lines and the coin then drops clear from between the.
projections. Immediately the coin has fallen clear of the projections the figures are
moved backwards automatically from their upward position shewn by broken lines,.
by means of weights formed conveniently of bars q which project horizontally
outwards from the fulcrums when the figures are in their upward position. When
the figures have thus been moved back some distance by the weights g they fall.
the remaining distance to their horizontal position by their own gravity. The
coin is shewn by broken line circle in position just dropping clear of the.
projections p.
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. A toy having two figures fitted to a suitable base in combination with means.
by which they may be moved towards and from one another, or one of them
towards and from the other, substantially as described.
2. A toy having two figures fitted, or one of them fitted, to be capable of sliding
towards and from one another, or towards and from the other, along a slot in the
top of a box or frame or in a raised platform, in combination with mechanism
within such box or frame or underneath such platform by means of which the
movements of the figures, or of the moving figure, may be caused, substantially as.
described.
3. A toy having two figures fitted to a suitable base and capable of being moved.

page_text: towards and from one another, in combination with means by which their
movement towards one another is directly caused by the operator and their return
or outward movement is caused by the reaction of a spring or by gravity,
substantially as described.
4. An amusing toy constructed and operating substantially as described and 5
shewn, according to different modifications, by the drawings herewith.
Dated this 2nd day of April 1894.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.