Year: 1887

page_text: I, GEORGES CARETTE of Nuremberg in the Empire of Germany, 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 a toy which represents a bicycle and rider. This toy can
be set in motion in a simple manner so that it will run upon a floor or other surface.
For this purpose the axle of the driving wheel of the toy bicycle is extended to the
outside of the front fork, and upon the prolongation thus formed is fixed a bobbin
having a flange on either side in order to prevent the lateral slipping off of a string,
cord or the like which is wound upon the said bobbin. One of the flanges of the
latter is laterally provided with a hole in which the end of the said string or cord is
inserted. By turning the driving wheel the string or cord is caused to pass in close
convolutions upon the said bobbin, and if the string is then rapidly drawn off, the
driving wheel can be set in quick rotation so that when the toy bicycle is put upon
the floor it will move rapidly forward.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 represents a side view of the toy constructed according to this invention,
and
Figure 2 shows part of a front view thereof.
This toy comprises a front fork A with a prolongation or back-bone B extending
to the rear, in imitation of the outer form of a bicycle. The fork A has holes at its
lower ends for the reception of the axle c of the driving wheel C, and a fork D at
the rear end of the back-bone B receives the small wheel E. Upon the fork A is
placed in any desired position a figure F representing the bicylist.
Upon the axle c of the driving wheel, outside the front fork is fastened the bobbin G
which therefore turns with the axle c. The said bobbin is suitably provided with
flanges g, g' so that a string or cord H which is wound upon it cannot slip off.
The outer flange g¹ is moreover laterally provided with a hole i.
In order to set the toy in motion, the string or cord H is inserted with its end in
the hole of the bobbin and then wound upon the latter this being preferably effected
by holding the string or cord lightly between two fingers of one hand, while turning

page_text: the wheel with the other hand. It is however not necessary to insert the end of
the string or cord in the hole i, if care be taken that the layers of the string or cord
wound upon the bobbin shall be tight enough upon the latter to obviate slipping.
If now the other end of the string or cord is forcibly pulled, while the toy is held
so as to enable the driving wheel C to turn freely, this wheel will be caused to revolve
very rapidly in a similar manner as known with tops, and if the toy bicycle is then
put upon the floor or other suitable surface it will rapidly move forward and represent
a bicyclist riding on a machine.
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 :
A toy, representing a bicycle and rider, which comprises the front fork A with the
prolongation or back-bone B, the wheels and E, and a bobbin G fixed upon the
axle of the driving wheel C, so that when a string or cord His wound upon, and
drawn from the said bobbin, the driving wheel C can be set in rotation, substantially
as herein before described and represented in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 26th day of September 1887
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.