Improvements in Mechanical Toys.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 5 h May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 5th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 4th July, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanical Toys.
I CORNELIS FREDERIK ALEXANDER RÖELL, of the Lyric Club. Leicester
Square, in the County of Middlesex, a Jonkheer of the Kingdom of Holland do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The invention relates to improvements in mechanical toys and has for its object
to actuate boxing figures in such manner that their movements will appear more
natural than heretofore.
For this purpose I mount the figures upon vertical rods located at the back
thereof and mount these rods upon axes of motion upon a frame at or near the
ground line or stage.
At the lower end of each of these rods I fix a curved bar in such manner that
its ends are directed upward towards the ground line or stage and one end of this
curved bar weight so as to exert a tendency to throw the figure upon its back and
1 employ discs or wheels formed with irregular teeth ribs or projections thereon
and driven by any suitable means to act upon the weighted ends of the curved bars
and throw the figures forward as in the act of boxing.
In order to prevent the figures being thrown upon their backs except at the
times desired I employ plates or stops against which the plain ends of the curved
bars come in the oscillation of the figures thus limiting the backward movement of
the figures but in order to cause the figures to be thrown upon their backs as if
from a knock down blow I form a slot or opening in each stop plate and I give a
gradual forward movement to such plates from the same source of power that gives
motion to the figures so that as the slot of each plate moves over the plain end of
the curved bar the latter will pass through the slot and the corresponding figure
will fall backward.
This arrangement of parts would cause both figures simultaneously to fall upon
their backs after a given period of time but in order to cause either one of such
figures to so fall whilst the other remains erect and that accidentally or irregularly
1 give motion to the sliding stop plates through a bar or yoke pinjointed to each of
them and I employ a horizontal balanced weighted lever bar or pendulum which
receives an impulse from some moving part of the apparatus thus causing it to
oscillate for a considerable time and I provide this bilanced lever or bar or
pendulum with two arms or posts corresponding with the sliding stop plates and
provided with a hooked end to engage the same.
By these means as the stop plates are carried forward one or other of them will
engage a hooked post of the balanced oscillating bar or pendulum and will be
thereby held against further movement so that its slot cannot come into position to
allow of the passage of the plain end of the corresponding curved bar whilst the
oscillating bar or pendulum will at the same time be held with its other hooked
post out of engagement with the other stop plate which will continue its forward
movement until its slot arrives in position to allow of the passage of the plain end
of the corresponding curved bar then the figure connected therewith will fall over
onto its back.
Means may be provided for returning the fallen figure to its normal position.
Dated this 5th day of May 1890.

page_text: Figure 1 is a rear elevation representing a mechanical toy constructed according
to my invention the back of the case and some other parts being removed in order
to expose the mechanism.
improvements in Meonanical Toys.
1, CORNELIS FREDERIK ALEXANDER RÖELL of the Lyrie Club Leicester
Square in the County of Middlesex a Jonkheer of the Kingdom of Holland 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 invention relates to improvements in mechanical toys and has for its object
to actuate boxing figures in such manner that their movements will appear more
natural than heretofore.
For this purpose I mount the figures upon vertical rods located at the back
thereof and mount these rods upon axes of motion upon a frame at or near the
ground line or stage.
At the lower end of each of these rods I fix a curved bar in such manner that
its ends are directed upward towards the ground line or stage and one end of this
curved bar I weight so as to exert a tendency to throw the figure upon its back
and I employ dies or wheels formed with irregular teeth ribs or projections thereon
and driven by any suitable means to act upon the weighted ends of the curved
bars and throw the figures forward as in the art of boxing.
In order to prevent the figures being thrown upon their backs except at the
times desired I employ plates or stops against which the plain ends of the curved
bars come in the oscillation of the figures thus limiting the backward movement of
the figures but in order to cause the figures to be thrown upon their backs as if
from a knock down blow I form a slot or opening in each stop plate and I give a
gradual forward movement to such plates from the same source of power that gives
motion to the figures so that as the slot of each plate moves over the plain end of
the curved bar the latter will pass through the slot and the corresponding figure
will fall backward.
n
This arrangement of parts would cause both figures simultaneously to fall upon
their backs after a given period of time but in order to cause either one of such
figures to so fall whilst the other remains erect and that accidentally or irregularly
I give motion to the sliding stop plates through a bar or yoke pin-jointed to each
of them and I employ a horizontal balanced weighted lever bar or pendulum which
receives an impulse from some moving part of the apparatus thus causing it to
oscillate for a considerable time and I provide this balanced lever bar or pendulum
with two arms or posts corresponding with the sliding stop plates and provided with
a hooked end to engage the same.
By these incans as the stop plates are carried forward one or other of them will
engage a hooked post of the balanced oscillating har or pendulum and will he
thereby held against further movement so that its slot cannot come into position to
allow of the passage of the plain end of the corresponding curved bar whilst the
oscillating bar or pendulum will at the same time he held with its other hooked
post out of engagement with the other stop plate which will continue its forward
movement until its slot arrives in position to allow of the passage of the plain end
of the corresponding curved bar when the figure connected therewith will fall over
on to its back.
Means may be provided for returning the fallen figure to its normal position.
And in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect. I will proceed, aided by the accompanying drawings more fully
to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS,
Figure 1 is a rear elevation representing a mechanical toy constructed according

page_text: Fiœure 2 is a vertical transverse section thereof taken on the line 1.
but showing the back of the case in place.
-L of Figure 1
Figure 3 represents a portion of Figure 2 drawn to an enlarged scale in order
but showing the back of the case in place.
Figure 3 represents a portion of Figure 2 drawn to an enlarged scale in order
more clearly to show the parts.
Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a plan of the stop bars and yoke separately and
Figure 6 is an edge view thereof.
Figure 7 represents a plan of a device for returning the fallen figure to its
normal position and giving the required impulse to the oscillating bar or pendulum
and
Figure 8 is an elevation thereof.
In the several figures like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference.
h
a represents the case of the apparatus represents the ground line or stage floor
which is supported upon side beams a' and walls a², represents several vertical
posts fixed to the floor and supporting a rope in imitation of a boxing ring
and a represents the boxing figures.
The boxing figures are each mounted upon a vertical rode located at the back
thereof and these rods care horizontally bent so as to form axes of motion e¹
which are mounted in bearings formed by brackets 63 secured to the underside of
the stage floor b.
Beyond these bearings each of the rods c¹ is at e
again bent vertically and
at its lower end is furnished with a bar curved in the form of an arc struck from
the axis in such manner that its ends are directed upward towards the stage
floor and the outer end of this curved bar is provided with a weight so as to
exert a tendency to throw the figure upon its back
In order to give motion to the boxing figures revolving discs or wheels d formed
with irregularly shaped and spaced teeth ribs or projections thereon are arranged
to act upon the weighted ends of the curved bars and thus throw the figures e
forward as in the act of boxing the weight returning them to their normal
positions.
These wheels or discs are fixed upon a horizontal shaft which at its ends is
mounted in bearings a³ formed in the walls a and the shaft has loosely mounted
thereon a drum upon which is mounted a spring ratchet tooth which engages
a ratchet wheel fixed upon the shaft whilst around the drum d' are coiled
several turns of a corde one end of which passes under a guide pulley carried by
a bracket a fixed upon the bottom of the case a thence up and over a guide
pulley e carried by a bracket a fixed to the upper part of the back wall of the
case a where the depending end of the corde is attached to a weight e³ which
furnishes the requisite motive power whilst the other end of the code passes
through an aperture as in the front of the case a and terminates in a pull e*.
By this arrangement of parts upon drawing forward the cord e by the aid of the
pull the weight will be raised into the position indicated by the dotted lines in
Figure 2 and the drum d' will during such movement revolve loosely upon the
shaft without giving motion thereto whilst upon the release of the pull + the
weight e will through the cord e, drum ', ratchet teeth and ratchet wheel *
give rotary motion to the shaft 2 and dises or wheels d and thus impart the desired
movements to the boxing figures c.
In lieu of the weight and cord e a spring with any suitable means of com-
pression may be employed as the motive power as will be readily understood by a
competent mechanic.
C
In order to prevent the boxing figures e being thrown upon their backs except at
the times desired stop plates are employed which slide in guides secured to the
underside of the stage floor and against which plates the inner or plain ends of
the curved bars come in the oscillation of the figures e thus limiting the back-
ward movement of the figures but in order to cause the figures to be thrown upon
their backs as if from a knock down blow a slot or opening is formed in each
stop plate and a delayed but gradual inward movement towards the back of the

page_text: machine is given to such stop plates as hereinafter more fully described so that as
the slot of each plate arrives over the inner or plain end of the corresponding
curved bar the latter will pass through the slot and the corresponding
figure e will fall backward.
This arrangement of parts would cause both figures simultaneously to fall upon
their backs after a given period of time but in order to cause either one of such
figures to so fall whilst the other remains creet and that accidentally or irregularly
the following device is employed,
Motion is given to the sliding stop plates through a bar or yoke which is by
pin joints connected with the end of each of such stop plates and this yoke
is provided with an ollset formed with a long slot therein for the purpose of
giving a delayed motion to the stop plates in the outward pull of the cord as
hereinafter more particularly referred to and in which slot works a pin or study
fixed to the upper end of a fever which at its lower end is furnished with a ping
which takes into a slot a' formed in a bracket a fixed to the bottom of the case a
and forms an axis for the lever g to rock upon and this lever at its centre is
formed with a drilled loss through which passes the cord e provided with knots
or enlargements*°* the former of which comes against the lever when the
weight has nearly run down and gives a short traverse at the last moment of the
performance to the stop plates whilst the latter.** Com against the lever g in
The reverse motion of the cord during the winding up of the weight and thus
restores the stop plates to their onward position.
In connection with the sliding stop plate a horizontal balanced bar or pendulum
is employed which is loosely mounted upon an axis of motion carried by a
fitting fixed to the back of the case a aud is furnished with adjustable weights
at each end thereof whilst at every operation of the apparatus it receives an impulse
from some moving part thereof as hereinafter more fully described thus causing it
to oscillate for some considerable time upon its exis and this balanced lever bar
or pendulum is provided with two arms or posts corresponding with the stop
plates and which at their lower ends are connected therewith by pin joints but
which at their upper ends work in guides ** beyond which they are formed with
hooked ends to engage one or other of the stop plates/as shown more particularly
at Figures 3 and 1.
By these means as the sliding stop plates are carried towards the back of the
case a by the cord and lever one or o her of them will encounter a hooked post h*
of the balanced oscillating bar or pendulum and will be thereby held against
further movement so that its slot cannot come into position to allow of the passage
therethrough of the plain end of the corresponding curved bar whilst the oscillating
bar or pendulum will at the same time he held with its other hooked post ² out
of engagement with the other stop plate which will continue its movement until
its slot arrives in position to allow of the passage of the plain end of the
correspoling curved bar when the figure e connected therewith will fall on to its
mck as if from a knock down blow.
In order to restore the fallen figure e to its normal position and to give the
required impulse to the oscillating bar or pendulum the following device is
employed.
A vertical spindle is with capability of revolution at its lower end stepped in a
bearing formed in an offset from a V shaped bracket depending from the
guides of the stop plates and at its upper end held in a bearing formed in a
plate attached to the underside of the stage floor 6 and upon the upper part of
the spindle is fixed by its boss a horizontal bar which at each end but upon
opposite sides thereof is provided with a cam shaped offset whilst at the lower end
of the spindle is fixed by its boss a stud or offset.
The offset of the spindle i engages a notch formed in the lower edge of a
horizontal sliding burg at one end connected by a pin joint g to the lever and at
the other end supported in a guide formed on the bracket j so that upon the
forward movement of the lever by the knot e** of the cord e the spindle will be

page_text: rotated thus bringing one of the cams corresponding with the fallen figure against
the lower end e' of the vertical rod c' and in its continued motion depressing such
lower end and thereby raising the fallen figure to its normal position the
connection of the lever g with the yokef by the slotted offset f' enabling the
curved bar c² to be moved clear of the stop plates / before any movement is given
to the latter.
I
The stud or offset of the spindle i by the further motion of the sliding bar
slips out of the side of the notch and is thus held until the incline g of the bar
has passed by when it is returned to its normal position together with the cams
by means of a spring at one end attached to the upper part of the spindle i and
at the other end attached at 7 to the stage floor whilst the sliding bar g in its
return motion by the incline ' rides up over the stud or offset of the spindle i
until it arrives at the end of its return traverse when the notch go again engages the
stud in readiness for the next operation.
Upon the spindle i is loosely mounted by its boss ¹ a finger which at its boss ¹
is formed with a nose or projection which during the latter part of the outward
movement of the sliding bar is acted upon by an offset g therefrom to give it a
sudden rotary movement during which it encounters and sweeps past a vertical
A shaped offset of the oscillating bar or pendulum and thus gives the
necessary oscillating impulse thereto whilst upon the latter part of the return
movement of the sliding bar an offset therefrom acts upon the nose or
projection of the finger k to return it to its normal position the end of the finger k
being formed with a latch which gives way upon encountering the offset / of the
oscillating bar thus permitting the finger k to pass on its return journey and
resume its norinal position.
I would here remark that although I have described my invention in connection
with boxing figures it is equally applicable to foiling and other figures as will be
readily understood and I would further remark that whilst I have shown and
described the best details that I am at present acquainted with for carrying my
invention into effect I do not confine myself strictly thereto as it is evident that the
same may be modified without departing from the peculiar character of my
invention.
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. In a mechanical toy the combination of two moving figures or objects, means
for oscillating such figures and means for causing either one of such figures to
accidentally or irregularly fall after a given period of time substantially as herein
shown and described.
2. In a mechanical toy the combination of two moving figures mounted upon
vertical rods provided at their lower ends with curved weighted bars, means for
imparting the required oscillating movements to the figures, sliding stop plates for
limiting the movements of the curved bars and consequently of the figures and
means for accidentally or irregularly arresting the movement of either one of the
stop plates whilst the other continues its traverse and allows the corresponding
curved bar to pass by it and the connected figure to fall substantially as herein
shown and described and for the purpose stated.
3. In a mechanical toy the combination of several sliding stop plates for con-
trolling the movements of figures or objects and means for traversing such plates
substantially as herein shown and described.
4. In a mechanical toy the combination of several sliding stop plates for con-
trolling the movements of figures or objects, means for traversing such plates and
means for accidentally or irregularly arresting the movement of one of the stop
plates whilst the other continues its traverse substantially as herein shown and
described.
5. In a mechanical toy the combination of two sliding stop plates coupled by a

page_text: yoke for controlling the movements of figures or objects, means for traversing such
plates and means for accidentally or irregularly arresting the movement of one of
The stop plates whilst the other continues its traverse substantially as herein shown
and described.
6. In a mechanical toy the combination of two sliding stop plates for controlling
the movements of figures or objects means for traversing such plates an oscillating
bar or pendulum provided with hooked posts for accidentally or irregularly arresting
the movement of one of the stop plates whilst the other continues its traverse and
means for giving an oscillating impulse to the bar or pendulum substantially as
herein shown and described.
7. In a mechanical toy the combination of two moving figures mounted upon
vertical rods means for imparting the required oscillating movements to the figures,
two sliding stop plates for controlling the movements of the figures, means for
traversing such plates, an oscillating bar or pendulum provided with hooked posts
for accidentally or irregularly arresting the movement of one of the stop plates
whilst the other continues its traverse and permits one of the figures to fall means
for giving an oscillating impulse to the bar or pendulum and means for raising the
fallen figure substantially as herein shown and described.
8. In a mechanical toy the combination of two moving figures mounted upon
vertical rods provided at their lower ends with curved weighted bars, irregularly
toothed wheels for acting upon the weighted ends of the curved bars and imparting
the required oscillating movements to the figures, means for giving motion to such
wheels, sliding stop plates for limiting the movements of the curved bars and
consequently of the figures, means for traversing such stop plates, an oscillating bar
or pendulum provided with hooked posts for accidentally or irregularly arresting
the movement of one of the stop plates whilst the other continues its traverse and
allows the corresponding curved bar to pass by it and the connected figure to fall,
means for giving an oscillating impulse to the bar or pendulum and means for
raising the fallen figure substantially as herein shown and described.
9. The general combination and arrangement of parts constituting a mechanical
toy substantially as herein shown and described.
Dated this 5th day of February 1891.
WHITE & WOODINGTON,
27, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.