Improvements in and Apparatus for Moving or Showing Toy Figures and other Objects which may be Actuated by a Coin or by other Suitable Means.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Sept., 1889-Accepted, 22nd Jan., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Apparatus for Moving or Showing Toy Figures
and other Objects which may be Actuated by a Coin or by
other Suitable Means.
I HARRY HOOK of The Crane Inn Wandsworth S.W. gentleman do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The apparatus consists of a frame or cabinet or stand containing preferably a toy
figure (or figures) such as a negro, made preferably of flexible or pliable material
or fitted with joints, so that the figure or object matter may be compressed or folded
and thus concealed from view when in the normal position-Upon the insertion of
a coin or token or the like (or by the action of the hands alone) the above figure
may be released or caused to appear by means of withdrawing a trigger-the trigger
having previously locked a cover or screen concealing the object matter or negro.
The object matter (or negro if it be) upon the release of the trigger by the coin
or otherwise is immediately brought into view by means of a spring (or springs)
falling weight or piece of elastic or its equivolent.
In cases where it is proposed to make the object or negro jig, danse, or move
a fly wheel is provided to which is given a spin round or impetus by hand or a
piece of string (in the manner of a top).
The fly wheel carries or actuates suitable parts to make the toy figure or object
matter move or dance.
It is obvious that the object matter may be of the nature of a Punch & Judy show,
Marrionettes, or of any other description which may be exposed and actuated by the
means and apparatus herein described.
The toy figures may also present articles such as sweetmeats &c.
When the apparatus is actuated by coins, or tokens, or the like, the frame or box
forming the structure may be adapted as a receptacle for coin & the like, in the
manner of a money box, and may be provided with a key and apparatus for recording
the number of coins taken.
Dated this 22nd day of November 1888
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Apparatus for Moving or Showing Toy Figures
and other Objects which may be Actuated by a Coin or by
other Suitable Means.
I HARRY HOOK engineer now at sea of S.S. "Dracona" 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 apparatus for moving or exhibiting toy figures or other
objects calculated to ainuse or please the user, such as pictures, photographs,
kaleidoscopic transformations, numbers, mottoes, and the like, its object being to
produce a simple machine of this description which can be worked at will by the
user at all times, but is so arranged that the figure or other object or objects can
only be seen by the user after he has introduced a predetermined coin (or coins)
into the machine.
The apparatus consists briefly of a movable flywheel or its equivalent, which
carries or is connected with the figure or other object to be exhibited, and is rotated
at will by the user through the medium of a push or pull bar or the like, which is,
by preference, connected to the said wheel by an arrangement of ratchet wheel and

page_text: vibrating slip-pawl. The figure or other object matter is normally concealed from
view by a shutter or screen which is removed or opened by suitable mechanism on
the introduction of a predetermined coin (or coins) into the machine, and is again
closed automatically after the machine has been operated to a certain extent.
The manner in which I carry my invention into effect may be understood by
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figure 1 is a front view of the inachine, the front wall of the cabinet and part of.
the screen or cover being removed.
Figure 2 is a vertical section on line x a, Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a section on an enlarged scale of a portion of the driving mechanism,
the section being taken on line y y, Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a front view, showing a modification, the front wall of the cabinet
being removed.
Figures 5 and 6 are front and side elevations respectively (partly in section) of
a coin registering device.
A, is the enclosing cabinet of the apparatus, which may be mounted in any
convenient position for the operator. The cabinet is provided with a movable cover
or screen B which is located behind a suitable opening a in the wall of the cabinet,
the said opening being, by preference, glazed, and being so constructed and located
as to permit the whole or a portion only of the figures or object matter within
the cabinet to be seen when the screen is withdrawn or opened. a¹ is the coin
orifice.
C, is a balanced lever having at one end a tray or pan C adapted to receive a coin
from the coin shute a². The opposite end of the lever carries a
trigger C² which
engages a stop 6 on the screen in such a manner that the latter is held in its upper or
closed position until the trigger is released by the overbalancing of the coin lever C.
On the introduction of a coin into the tray C, the screen descends to its lowest
position by its own weight, assisted, if need be, by a spring or springs, and permits
the figure D or other object matter to be seen through the window a. It is
preferable to make the upper part B₁ of the screen of flexible material, so that it
may pass over the guide rollers 6162, and be attached to a cord B2 for a purpose
hereinafter described. The flexible part B₁ is provided with an opening b
sponding with the window a or a given portion thereof.
corre-
The user now gives one or more pulls on the handle E which is attached to a
string E. The latter is connected with the flywheel F in such a manner that on
pulling the handle E the said wheel is caused to spin round after the manner of a
top in one direction, and thus to move the figure or other object matter behind the
window. The spindle of the flywheel carries or is connected with a ratchet wheel G,
and the string E' is connected to a vibratory piece, such as the lever G¹, which
oscillates about the spindle and carries a slip-pawl G2 adapted to engage the teeth
of the ratchet wheel in one direction and to slip over them in the opposite direction.
Each successive tug at the string E' imparts an additional impetus to the flywheel,
and the string, lever and slip-pawl are all returned to their normal positions after
each such tug by a spring E2 or its equivalent. It will be obvious that the lever G¹
or other vibratory piece, carrying the slip-pawl, could be mounted in positions
other than on the spindle f. Also a push or pull bar or a crank shaft and turn
handle might be substituted for the string E¹, and moreover the. ratchet wheel G
could be geared with the flywheel in any suitable manner, with the object of
increasing or diminishing the speed of the flywheel relative to that of the ratchet
wheel.
Instead of the ratchet and slip-pawl device, the string E¹ could be attached
directly to one side of the spindle for of a drum upon the spindle. Successive
tugs on the string would, in this case, rotate the flywheel alternately in opposite
directions, the impetus imparted to the wheel at each tug serving to wind the string
upon the shaft or drum in the reverse manner ready for the succeeding tug.
When the object matter consists of a toy figure D, it may be made to dance or
jig by the movement of the wheel F as follows :-

page_text: The figure is made of flexible material or with flexible or pivoted joints d, and it
is suspended loosely by its trunk as at d¹ preferably upon the projecting end of the
spindle. The feet of the figure lie in proximity to the rim of the flywheel or other
part movable synchronously therewith, and the latter or its equivalent is provided
with a series of ribs or projections f¹ which strike the feet of the figure as the wheel
rotates and thus cause the figure to dance or jig. It is evident that the figure
could be suspended in a number of different ways, either within or without the
circumference of the flywheel, also that more than one figure could be employed.
The screen or cover B or its equivalent, instead of being simply moved in front
of the window a so as to conceal the figure, may be made the means of moving the
figure bodily beyond the limits of the window after each operation of the machine, the
figure being mounted in such a manner as to permit of such movement; or-if
the figure be made flexible or capable of folding up-the screen may be made the
means, when being closed, of compressing or folding the figure into a space beyond
the window and of retaining it there until the next operation of the machine. In
either case, the opening of the screen or cover by the action of a coin would release
the figure and cause it to appear before the window.
In cases where the object matter consists of pictures, photographs, kaleidoscopic
transformations, numbers, mottoes or the like, it is preferable to mount such object
matter directly upon the flywheel F or upon a surface movable synchronously
therewith, the speed of said wheel or surface being regulated by gearing as aforesaid,
according to the nature of the matter to be shown, and the window being arranged
so as to show the whole or only a portion of the object matter, as thought most
desirable.
07
One way in which the machine may be applied to the exhibition of mottoes or the
like may be described with reference to Figure 4 as follows:
The mottoes are arranged in any convenient manner, say within a series of circles m,
upon the face of an annular flange M, carried by or moving with the flywheel F
behind the screen B B¹. In addition to the opening 63 aforesaid for viewing the
figure, the part B¹ of the screen is provided with an opening 64, through which only
one motto can be seen when the flywheel comes to a standstill. The visible motto
will vary according to the point at which the flywheel stops. One arm d² of the
figure D is moved to and fro by contact with the ribs f¹ on the flywheel. The joint
of the arm is formed as shown at d³, so that its movement to the left is limited. It
thus always (by its own weight) comes to rest in the same position, that is, with its
finger pointing towards the opening 64 in the screen. When the above motto
arrangement or its equivalent is worked in connection with an automatic screen
closing device such as hereinafter described, only such a limited amount of rotation is
imparted by the user to the flywheel F and flange M as will permit them to come to
a standstill prior to the closing of the screen and the consequent hiding of all the
object matter.
In conjunction with the above motto arrangement, the following device may
be employed for the purpose of providing a little additional excitement for the
money:
N is a lever located behind the screen B¹ and pivoted at or about its centre, as at n,
upon a bracket projecting from the rear wall of the machine or otherwise. Each end
of the lever carries a disc n', one of said discs bearing the word "yes," and the
other, "no," or their equivalents. The screen is also provided with two openings n²
behind which the discs n' n¹ alternately appear during the oscillation of the lever N,-
as hereinafter described. The lever N carries an upwardly extending rod N' which
is adapted to be oscillated by means of an arm or crank N2 on the flywheel shaft or
by other suitable device moving synchronously with the flywheel. The arm N² is
preferably not connected to the rod N¹, but simply engages its upper end, during the
lower portion of the arm's revolution, by means of a projecting pin n³ on the arm
(or, if desired, on the rod). The по end of the lever N is preferably slightly
weighted as at n*, so that, should the flywheel stop during the upper portion of the
arm's revolution, the disc bearing "yes" will be visible. When the flywheel bas
"
"

page_text: almost come to a standstill, the weight of the counterbalance n* and rod N¹ will
frequently offer a resistance sufficient to prevent the arm N2 from performing the
lower portion of its revolution, so that, in most cases, the word “ yes "would be
visible when the flywheel stopped.
H is a receptacle for the coins. The number of these latter may be registered by
connecting a suitable counter to the oscillatory pivot C³ of the coin lever C, so that
each double vibration of the latter will register one coin on the counter.
Or a registering device such as shown in Figures 5 and 6 may be employed. P is
a registering train of any ordinary description. The pawl wheel P₁ thereof is
adapted to be engaged in one direction by a lever p, which is pivoted at p¹ upon
the coin slide a² or other part adjacent thereto. The outer end of the lever is
cranked as at p2, Figure 6, and projects into the coin slide in the path of the coin.
On the insertion of a coin, the latter pushes aside the crank p², and the lever p is
thus turned upon its axis and rotates the pawl wheel P₁ one tooth. After the coin
has passed into the machine, the lever is returned into position behind the succeeding
tooth by a spring p³, such movement being permitted by forming the lever end with a
spring toggle joint, as at p¹. p³ is a stop for limiting the return movement of the
lever. In cases where the coin slide is provided with a pair of gripping arms or their
equivalent, such as described in the patent specification of A. Harris, No. 8098 of
June 4th 1888, one or both of these arms may be utilised for operating the registering
train.
The screen B may be returned to its normal position by any suitable time
mechanism, or it may be so returned indirectly by the user as he vibrates the string E
or its equivalent, so that he can only view the moving object matter for a limited
time.
This may be accomplished as follows:-
The screen is suspended by a cord B2, which passes over guide rollers 62 62, and is
attached at its opposite end to the periphery of a drum J. The latter is mounted
loosely upon the spindle f, and is provided with a clutch j, which is adapted, each
time the drum is slid in one direction upon the shaft, to engage a similar clutch j¹
fixed upon the spindle. A spring 2 is inserted between the drum and a boss j³
on the spindle, and tends constantly to place the clutches in gear one with the
other.
K is an angle lever, the upright arm of which engages, with its forked end, a
grooved boss on the drum J, while its lateral arm is held, during the normal
condition of the machine, by a spring stop K¹ K³, in such a position that the
clutches are out of gear. k is a stop on the movable screen, which, as the latter
approaches the limit of its descent, engages an inclined piece k on the spring
stop K¹ K2, and presses the latter aside, so as to release the lever K. The pressure
of the spring now forces the clutch towards the opposing clutch j¹, the movement
of the former being retarded by a dash pot arrangement L L'. The groove / in the
piston L is so adjusted that a given time shall elapse before the piston can descend
a sufficient distance to place the clutches in gear.
The clutches being in gear, and the user continuing to work the machine, the
rotation of the spindle causes the drum J to rotate and to wind in the cord B³, thus
raising the screen and hiding the object matter from view. As the screen approaches
its uppermost position a stop k² at its lower edge engages and raises the lateral arm
of the lever K. The said arm pushes back the spring stop K² in sliding over its
inclined end ³, and by the time the said stop has sprung forward again into its
normal position below the lever arm as seen in Figures 1 and 2, the clutch j and
drum J have been slid into their normal position and the spindle is free to be turned
at will by the operator without moving the screen. During the disengaging of the
clutches the piston L¹ is enabled to move freely upwards by reason of its valve (2
which opens, and permits the fluid in the upper part of the cylinder to pass below
the piston.
The mode of action is as follows:-
The user having put a coin of the proper denomination into the coin orifice a¹, it

page_text: descends into the tray C¹ and overbalances the lever C, which can be accurately
counterpoised by the adjustable weight C. As the lever is overbalanced it withdraws
the trigger and permits the screen B to descend and render the figure or object
matter visible, the coin being also discharged from the tray C' and the lever returned
by the counterbalance into its normal position against the stop C³. The user now
rotates the flywheel as before described by one or more tugs on the handle E, thus
causing the figure D to dance, or the object matter to move, in front of the window a.
The descent of the screen also releases the lever K as described, and the latter,
under the combined action of the spring and dash pot, puts the clutches in gear
The clutches
after a given time, during which the object matter is visible to the user.
being in gear and the operator continuing to actuate the handle E, the cord E¹ is
wound in and the screen is raised and obscures the window. The raising of the
screen returns the lever K and clutch; to their normal positions, in which they are
held by the spring stop K¹ K². The stop 6 on the screen is enabled to pass the
trigger C during the ascent of the screen as the said trigger is toggle-jointed as
shown at C6.
It will be evident that the screen might be released by the user through the
medium of a separate push or pull bar or a foot board or its equivalent instead of by
the action of a coin.
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. An apparatus for exhibiting toy figures or other objects, in which such figure
or object is carried by, or connected with, a flywheel adapted to be rotated by the
alternate strokes of a handle located on the exterior of the apparatus and capable of
being actuated at all times by the user, and in which such figure or object is
normally hidden from view by a screen or cover which is adapted to be moved aside
or opened, so as to exhibit the object matter, through the medium of a suitable coin
actuated device, substantially as described.
2. In a machine of the kind described, the combination of a flywheel carrying or
connected with the object matter, a ratchet wheel movable synchronously with said
flywheel, and a vibratory slip-pawl engaging the ratchet wheel in one direction only
and adapted to be operated at all times directly by the user through the medium
of a reciprocatory handle or equivalent device on the exterior of the apparatus,
substantially as described.
1011 1
1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.