Improvements in Toys.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 19th Feb., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Toys.
I, MEAVE THOMSON GEDNEY, of 156 West 105th Street, New York, in the County
and State of New York, United States of America, Married Woman, 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:-
This invention relates to toys. The object of the invention is to provide a toy
which is simple and cheap in construction; a further object is to provide a toy whose
exterior is made to represent a child or animal, and which by the construction of the
parts without complicated internal mechanism, will be adapted to move along the
floor or other surface in an upright position and then automatically assume a
horizontal position, and continue the onward movement. Further, the object of the
invention is to provide a toy made in the representation of a person or other animal
designed to move forward in an upright position for a distance and then assume a
horizontal movement while still moving forward, the figure being provided with a
movable head and in the case of a lower animal with a movable head and tail which
will change position as the toy assumes a horizontal position.
With these objects in view the invention consists essentially of a frame preferably
made in the contour of a person or other animal provided with a propelling wheel,
the weight of the toy in advance of the propelling wheel being greater than in rear
thereof, whereby the toy will be caused to assume a horizontal position after moving
forward a short distance. Further, the invention consists of a toy designed to move
forward in an upright position for a distance and then to assume a horizontal position,
while continuing the forward movement, and a reed connected with means for forcing
air into the same, the said means being so arranged as to be pressed upon the surface
upon which the toy is moving when the toy assumes a horizontal position. Further,
the invention consists of a toy designed to move forward in an upright position and
then to assume a horizontal position, continuing the forward movement, the toy
being provided with a pivoted head and a weight for causing the head to change
position as the body of the toy changes.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 represents one form of the invention in which the figure of a child is showr
as carrying a sled in front of it, showing in dotted lines the position assumed after
it proceeds a short distance.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the toy, the parts being shown in the position
assumed when in a horizontal position.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a figure of a child the same being shown in an upright
position.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the toy shown in Fig. 3 showing the arrangement. pf
the reed operated by a bellows whereby a sound will be emitted when the toy
assumes a horizontal position.
Fig. 5 is an illustration of an embodiment of the invention in which the figure of a
dog is employed and which is designed to move forward in an upright position and
then to assume a horizontal position on all fours, the head and tail of the dog being

page_text: pivoted and provided with weights for changing their positions when the position of
the body of the toy is changed.
Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the toy shown in Fig. 5 illustrating the position of
the parts when in a borizontal position.
at
In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, I have shown the invention as composed of a
body A provided with supporting wheels a, a¹, and with a propelling wheel a²
the supporting wheel a, and the propelling wheel a² being arranged
what is the lower end of the toy when the latter is in an upright position,
and the supporting wheel a¹ being arranged at what is the forward end when the
toy assumes a horizontal position. A forward movement of the toy is given by
means of an elastic band B connected at a point b, to the frame of the toy and
wound around the axle as of the supporting wheel. The end of the shaft a³ is
provided with a crank a for use in winding the elastic band B upon the shaft a³.
The parts of the toy are so arranged that the greatest weight is in advance of the
shaft a³ when the toy is in an upright position. The difference in weight between
the front and rear side, however, is not sufficiently great to cause the toy to
assume a horizontal position until it has proceeded a short distance when impelled
by the propelling wheel. In the use of the toy as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the
band is wound upon the shaft a³, and the toy placed upon the floor or other surface,
When released,
resting upon the propelling wheel a² and the supporting wheel a.
the elastic band will revolve the propelling wheel causing the toy to move forward.
After the toy has moved forward a short distance the greater weight in advance of
the shaft of the propelling wheel will result in causing the toy to assume the
position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1, and the momentum acquired will cause
the toy to proceed a short distance in a horizontal position. In order to carry out
the deception the toy is provided in its forward end with the representation of a
child's sled C, and the movements of the toy are such as to imitate those of a child
running forward and throwing itself face downward upon the sled.
The head D of the figure is pivoted at a point d, and the head is provided with an
extension carrying a weight d¹. The head being free to vibrate on its pivot, it will
be seen that when the toy assumes a horizontal position the weight d¹ will
act to raise the upper portion of the head and cause it to assume the position shown
in Fig. 2 of the drawing.
In Fig. 3 I have shown the invention as embodied in a toy in the form of a doll,
and as will be seen in Fig. 4 there is arranged within the dress of the toy a bellows E
having connected therewith a reed F The bellows is so arranged that as the toy
assumes a horizontal position, air will be forced into the reed causing the toy to make
a sound corresponding to that of the cry of a child. The toy in falling forward
causes the movable side of the bellows to strike the floor, thereby throwing
the weight of the toy upon the same. The supporting wheels, the head and the
means for propelling the toy of the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4 are the
and
those shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In Figs. 5
6 I have
shown respectively a side elevation of a toy in the form of a dog in an upright
position, and a view partially in section of the dog after assuming a horizontal
position. In this form of embodiment of the invention both the head and tail are
pivoted, the tail G being provided at a point g, with a weight g¹ corresponding to
the weight d¹ of the head. The propelling means is the same as that employed
in the other form of the device, and the supporting wheels a, for carrying the toy
when in a horizontal position after proceeding forward a short distance in an upright
position are attached to the legs.
same as
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A self-propelling toy composed of a body, a propelling wheel connected with
the body, and means for imparting motion to the propelling wheel, the body of the
toy being so arranged that the weight at one side of the shaft of the propelling
wheel shall be greater than that on the other side, whereby the toy is adapted to

page_text: move a distance in an upright position and be automatically shifted to a horizontal
position, substantially as described.
2. A self-propelling toy comprising a figure of a person or other animal provided
with means for propelling the same, the head pivotally secured to the body of the
toy, a weight attached to the head for changing the position of the same when the
position of the body of the toy changed, the body being supported upon suitable
wheels, and having its weight so disposed that the toy will proceed a distance in an
upright position and then assume a horizontal position, substantially as described.
3. A self-propelling toy mounted upon suitable supporting wheels having arranged
in the front portion thereof a bellows, and a reed connected with the bellows, the
weight of the toy being greater in advance of the wheels than in the rear thereof,
and means for imparting a forward movement to the toy, whereby the toy will be
caused to proceed a distance in an upright position and then to assume a horizontal
position, bringing the weight of the toy upon the bellows and operating the reed,
substantially as described.
4. A self-propelling toy comprising a representation of a lower animal mounted
on suitable supporting wheels, means for propelling the toy, a pivoted head having
a weight connected thereto, and a pivoted tail also provided with a weight, the body
of the toy being so arranged that the forward part thereof will be greater in weight than
the rear part thereof, whereby the toy is caused to proceed a distance in an upright
position and then automatically to assume a horizontal position, substantially as
described.
5. A self-propelling toy comprising a body in the representation of a person or
lower animal, a propelling wheel mounted in the body, an elastic band wound upon
the shaft of the propelling wheel, supporting wheels arranged respectively on the
lower and upper forward portions of the toy, the body of the toy being so arranged
as to be heavier in front of the shaft of the supporting wheels than in the rear
thereof, whereby the toy will be caused to proceed a distance in a vertical position
and then to assume a horizontal position, substantially as described.
Dated this 28th day of December 1897
'
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.