Improvements in Clockwork Toys.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Nov., 1892-Accepted, 31st Dec., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[Communicated from abroad by STOLLWERCK BROTHERS, of Cologne-on-the-
Rhine, in the Empire of Germany.]
Improvements in Clockwork Toys.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 :-
My invention relates to toy clocks and the improvement consists in the
combination with a simple clock mechanism mounted within a suitable casing
preferably having the outward appearance of a clock, of a jointed figure suspended
above the clock casing and actuated by the clock mechanism in such a manner as
to cause the figure to execute a dancing movement.
In the accompanying drawing which shows how my invention may be con-
veniently and advantageously carried into practice,
Figure 1 is a front elevation, a portion of the front wall of the clock casing
being removed to show the interior of the casing.
Figure 2 is a vertical section on a line drawn through the centre of Figure 1.
a represents a suitable casing preferably having the outward appearance of a
clock with dial. Within the said casing is mounted a simple clock train actuated
by a weight, the latter being, in the usual manner, suspended from a cord b but
not shown in the drawing. f represents the drum upon which the cord b is wound
in the usual and well known manner. The said drum as well as the escapement
wheel d are mounted on the shaft g extending through the front wall of the casing
and carrying the hands in front of the dial. c is the pendulum and e the escape-
ment engaging the wheel d in the usual and well known manner.
In the front part of the casing a spur wheel h, preferably provided with
irregularly shaped teeth is rigidly mounted on the shaft g, the teeth of the said
wheel engaging one end of a pawl or lever i pivoted to the casing at k. To the
other end of the said pawl or lever is attached a string 1 connecting the same with
one end of a lever m pivoted at or near the upper end of a standard n mounted on
top of the clock casing a. From the other end of the said lever m is suspended a
jointed toy figure o.
The operation of the toy is as follows:-Upon the clock mechanism being set
in motion the spur wheel rotating with the shaft g imparts a rocking movement
to the pawl or lever i, the latter, in turn, rocking the lever m connected with it by
means of the string 1, and thus causing the suspended figure o to be reciprocated
vertically and to perform a dancing movement.
In order to impart to the toy figure a certain elasticity of movement I prefer, in
some cases, to employ an india-rubber string for connecting the lever m with the
pawl or lever i or for suspending the figure from the lever m, or both. Or I may
for the same purpose, interpose a spring of any suitable construction between these
parts.
Moreover, in lieu of a weight-actuated clock mechanism, I may as well employ
a spring-actuated clock mechanism without thereby departing from the spirit of
my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
First. In a toy the combination, with a clock mechanism and casing therefor, of
a figure suspended from a lever pivoted above the clock casing and means as

page_text: described for imparting to the said lever from the clock mechanism a rocking
movement, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Second. In a toy the combination, with a clock mechanism, of a spur wheel
rotated by the same, a pawl engaged by the said wheel, a lever actuated by the
said pawl and having a figure suspended therefrom, and a springy connection
between the said lever and pawl, all substantially as and for the purpose described.
Third. A toy clock having a casing provided with a standard such as n, a spur
wheel rotated by a suitable clock mechanism, and a pawl engaged by the said spur
wheel and adapted to actuate a figure suspended from the said standard.
Dated this 18th day of November 1892.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.