Improvements in Mechanical Toys.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Oct., 1895-Accepted, 14th Dec.. 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanical Toys.
I, WHITING JEROME WILCOX, of Cornwall, in the County of Litchfield,
and State of Connecticut, United States of America, Merchant, 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 mechanical toys, and the object thereof, is to provide
an improved device of this class which represents a squirrell house, of approxi-
mately the usual design, said squirrell house being provided with a revoluble
roller, and in my improvement I provide a clock mechanism by which the roller is
operated said clock mechanism and roller being also in mechanical connection,
with figures designed to represent squirrels or other animals, the connection with the
figures being such that one of the same is represented in the act of eating a nut,
while the other is operating the roller.
My invention in fully disclosed in the following Specification, of which the
accompaning drawing forms a part in which
Fig. 1. is a perspective side view of my improved toy.
Fig. 2. a side elevation, and parts of the device being shown in section; and
Fig. 3a transverse section of the roller, showing one of the squirrels in position
therein, and the manner of operating the same.
In the practice of my invention, I provide a squirrel house or cage A which may
be of the usual or any desired form and connected therewith is a roller B composed
of the circular end plates "A" and longitudinal rods "," and said drum is mounted
on a shaft C which extends longitudinally through the centre thereof, and arranged
at one end of said drum opposite the house or cage A is a casing D in which is
arranged an ordinary clock or spring drum mechanism which is designed to revolve
the shaft C said shaft being connected with a gear wheel which forms a part of said
clock or spring drum mechanism by means of a pinion d.
Within the roller B is a figure E which represents a squirrel, and passing through
the body portion of said figure is a shaft F shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 with
which is connected an arm G the upper end of which extends through a longitudinal
slot in the back of the figure and is provided with an eye or ring through which
the shaft C passes.
The shaft C passes into the house or cage A and is provided with a crank arm H
to which is connected a shaft which is pivotally connected with one end of a lever K
which is fulcrummed at k. Within the house or cage A is a figure L which is also
designed to represent a squirrel, and the tail, the bead and the fore legs of the
figure are pivotally connected with the body portion thereof. Connected with the
outer end of the lever K is a rod M, the upper end of which is pivotally connected
with the tail of the squirrel, and connected with the lever K adjacent to the rod M
is a rod m the other end of which is pivotally connected with the head of the
squirrel and the inner end of the lever K is provided with an upwardly directed
extension or shoulder in which is formed a vertical slot and connected with this
extension, by means of said slot is a lever N, which is bent practically at right
angles near the upper end thereof, and carried forward and pivotally connected with
a vertical standard O and the forward end end of said lever is pivotally connected
with the fore legs of the squirrel.
It will be understood that the figure L shown in Figure 2 is represented in section
and that the operation mechanism hereinbefore described, in connection therewith
consisting of the lever K rods M and m the lever N and the vertical standard O are
all located therein.

page_text: The operation will be readily understood from the foregoing description when
taken in conection with the accompaning drawing. The spring drum or clock
mechanism lommted in the easing Dis wound up in the usual manner and the shaft (
is put in mastion thereby. As the shaft ( revolves the drum B which is rigidly
mounted thereon revolves therewith, and the figure E is caused to move in a
manner similar to that of a squirrel revolving said drum and the operation of the
device is such that the figure seems to be revolving the drum.
At the same time, the lever K, is operated by the shaft, and rods the
opposite ends of said lever being given an up and down motion as will be
understood and in this operation of the lever K the head and fore feet of the
squinted will be brought together and seperated at regular intervals, the move-
ment Leing ench as to resemble the movement of a squirrel in the net of eating
a mut. At the same time the tail will be moved or agitated by the rod M and the
motion of the figure and the movements produced being similar as hereinbeture
statel to these of a squirrel when eating.
My invention is not limited to the exact form construction and arrangement
of parts shown and described, and I therefore reserve the right to make all
such changes therein, and modifications thereof as fairly come with the scope
of the invention.
Having now particulaily 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. The combination with a squirrel house or enge, having a drum mounted in
connection therewith, and adapted to be operated by said mechanism, a figure
within said drum, designed to represent a squirrel or other animal, said figure
heing also pivotally connected with said shaft and a figure within the house or
vage designed to represent a squirrel or other animal, and the seperate parts of
said figure being in operate connection with said shaft and pivotally connectedl
with the body portion thereof, whereby when the shaft is revolved the figure
within the house or cage appears in the act of eating substantially as shown
and described.
2. In a mechanical toy the combination of a house or cage, and a roller mounted
at one end there of and rigidly connected with a shaft by which it is adapted to he
revolved a spring drum mechanism for revolving said shaft, and figures within the
drum and within the cage or house, said figures being designed, to represent
squirrels or other animals and being in operative connection with said shaft,
whereby when the shaft is revolved the figure within the drum appears to revolve
the drum, and the figure within the cage or house, appears in the act of eating,
substantially as shown and described,
3. aechanical toy the combination of a house or cage, a spring drum
Tipidly mounted on a shaft at one end thereof, a spring operated mechanism for
revolving said shaft one end of which is projected into said house or cage, a figure
designed to represent a squirrel or other animal within the drum, and pivotally
connected with said shaft by means of a rod or arm which passes through a slot
in the back of the figure, and a figure within the house or cage designed to
represent a squirrel or other animal and the fore legs and the head and tail of
which are pis aally connected with the body thereof, a lever pivotally supported
beneath the figure which is operative connection with the said shaft, said lever
Ling also operative connection with the pivoted tail the pivoted head and the
pivoted forelegs of the figure, substantially as shown and described.
Duted this 15th day of October 1895.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.