Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Mar., 1887
Complete Left, 7th Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 13th Jan., 1888
1, ROBERT LITTLE GRAINGER, of S Allan Place, Dumbarton, in the county of
Dumbarton, Commission Agent do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
The object of this invention is to construct figures of men, horses, and other
animals, so that when mechanical power is applied, they can by a cheap and simple
method be made to walk on their legs in a manner closely resembling the natural
movements in walking.
The upper part of the legs of the said figures pass into cavities hollowed in the
body in such a manner as to allow of the legs being moved backward and forward.
The legs being held in position at the top by a pin passing through a slot in the leg,
which slot admits of the leg being raised and lowered by means of a spring to be
afterwards described.
Attached to the said figure is a cart or other wheeled vehicle, on the axle of which
are cranks corresponding in number to the legs of the figure with which they are
connected, one to each leg. The said cranks being placed on different sides of the
axle so as to move the legs in natural order.
-Underneath the body
The legs are raised and lowered in the following manner :-
of the figure are attached springs, in a horizontal position, one for cach leg, or pair of
legs, having two free ends and fastened at the middle, in such a manner as to allow
of a pin, which projects from the inner side of the leg, passing over and under the
spring.
The said spring being at the fore end, bent close to the body of the figure. When
the leg moves forward the pin passes inside the spring (between the spring and the
body) raising the bent end of the spring, and passing out the spring falls back into
its former position preventing the return of the pin by the inside in its backward
movement; and thus is made to pass backward on the outside (or side next the
ground). As it approaches the back end of the spring the pin raises the spring
fowards the body, and passing off, allows the spring to return to its normal position,
thus preventing the return of the pin on the outside in its forward movement.
+ Price Ed

page_text: By this means the legs and feet are lifted off the ground when going forward and
rest on the ground when coming backward (or rather when they do not move forward
with the body).
The length of the step requires to be in proportion to the size of the wheel, one
revolution of the wheel being about equal to one full step. Or larger wheels may be
used, in which case a seperate axle would be required for the cranks, on which would
be a small toothed wheel which would be driven by a larger wheel on the axle of the
cart or driving wheels. The size of the toothed wheels being regulated in proportion
to the size of driving wheels and length of step required.
Dated this 8th day of March 1887

page_text: Improved Mechanical Walking Toys.
i, ROBERT LITTLE GRAINGER of 3 Edward Street Overnewton Glasgow, in the
County of Lanark (late of 8 Allan Place Dumbarton) 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, to construct figures of men horses and other animals
so that when mechanical power is applied they can by a cheap and simple method be
made to walk on their legs in a manner closely resembling the natural movement in
walking.
In the following description of my invention references are made by letters to the
accompanying drawings of which figure 1 is a plan shewing the mechanism by which
the legs of a toy horse are moved when attached to a lorry or other vehicle having
small wheels, figure 2 is a section at the line S S. and figure 3 is a section of a cart
or other vehicle having large wheels showing the method of increasing the speed of
the legs when required. Similar parts are represented by similar letters.
The upper part of the legs of the said figure pass into cavities hollowed in the body
in such a manner as to allow of the legs being moved backward and forward the legs
being held in position at the top by a pin A passing through a slot in the leg B, which
slot admits of the leg being raised and lowered by means of a spring to be afterwards
described.
Attached to the said figure is a cart or other wheeled vehicle on the axle of which
are cranks C, corresponding in number to the legs of the figure with which they are
connected one to each leg by means of rods, the said cranks being placed on different
sides of the axle, so as to move the legs in natural order.
The legs are raised and lowered in the following manner, underneath the body of
the figure are attached springs D. in a horizontal position one for each leg or pair of
legs having two free ends and fastened at the middle in such a manner as to allow of
a pin E which projects from the inner side of the leg passing over and under the
spring the said spring being at the fore end bent close to the body of the figure.
When the leg moves forward the pin passes inside the spring (between the spring and
the body) raising the bent end of the spring and passing out the spring falls back
into its former position preventing the return of the pin by the inside in its backward
movement and is thus made to pass backward on the outside (or side next the ground)
as it approaches the back end of the spring the pin raises the spring towards the
body and passing off allows the spring to return to its normal position, thus preventing
the return of the pin on the outside in its forward movement.
By this means the legs and feet are lifted off the ground when going forward, and
rest on the ground when coming backwards (or rather when the body is moved
forward).
The length of the step requires to be in proportion to the size of the wheel onc
revolution of the wheel being about equal to one full step. Or, larger wheels may be

page_text: used in which case a seperate axle would be required for the cranks on which axle
would be a small toothed wheel F which would be driven by a larger wheel G. on
the axle of the cart or driving wheels the size of the toothed wheels being regulated
in proportion to the size of driving wheels and length of step required.
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.
Firstly. The raising and lowering of the legs of mechanical toys, in walking, by
means of springs.
Secondly. The combination of cranks and rods by which the legs of said toys are
moved in their natural order as herein before described.
Thirdly. The mode of regulating the speed of the legs of said toys by means of
geared wheels.
Datod this 5th day of December 1887.
ROBERT LITTLE GRAINGER,
Applicant.