A New Toy, being a Representation of Animal or other Figures.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Jan., 1893-Accepted, 4th Mar., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New Toy, being a Representation of Animal or other Figures.
I, CELIA MATTISON SMITH, of Ithaca, in the County of Tompkins, and State
of New York, United States of America, Gentlewoman, 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 the manufacture of stuffed animal figures, such as
used for toys. As heretofore practised a number of pieces of cloth (eight or
more) have been sewed together and stuffed with cotton or other material to
represent the animal selected; but the sewing together of these numerous pieces
has been attended with difficulty, and it has been impracticable to effect it by
machinery, and such imitations of animals have not been formed so as to be
stable in any natural position. The limbs become bent and limp and at best
are clumsy imitations, useless except as handles, and are quickly and easily torn
from the body. The object of my improvement is to simplify and cheapen the
construction of such figures and to provide them with a base that affords a stable
equilibrium and at the same time renders them more life like and suitable for
the amusement and instruction of children.
The invention consists in the construction hereinafter described and pointed out.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a plan of the pattern for the front of an animal.
Fig. 2 is a similar view of the back.
Fig. 3 is an edge view of the complete figure.
Fig. 4 is a plan of a base pattern.
According to the improvement a figure representing an animal-such as a cat
-in a sitting position is made of three pieces of cloth or other material suitably
secured together and stuffed with cotton or the like. Preferably such figure
is printed, painted, or penciled to increase its life likeness, substantially as
indicated.
Numeral 1 indicates a front, 1' a back, and 2 a bottom piece. In practice these
parts will be cut in quantity out of a suitable material previously printed to repre-
sent a series of animals. The side pieces are first sewed together along their upper
and side edges. The bottom piece, which is preferably oval and of sufficient size
to support the figure when complete in stable manner in an upright position, is then
sewed to the lower ends of the side pieces, a suitable filling being introduced before
the seam is finally closed. As the base has relatively a large transverse area, the
opening Subsequently filled by the base piece is very convenient for the rapid and
proper introduction of the filling material, so as to fill the upper part of the figure
without distorting the desired outlines corresponding to the pattern. The final
filling of the figure near its base requires less care and can be effected after the
base-piece has been partially sewed in. The seams, it will be noted, are long and
few in number and as straight and continuous as practicable and can be sewed by a
machine. In the completed figure they lie in two planes, one passing vertically
through the centre of the figure from front to rear, the other being in the plane of
the base.
In the drawings the situation of the several seams is indicated on the pieces by
the outline of the figured part. The plain exterior border or edge shown is turned
inwardly when the pieces are sewed together. The lines or colours that may be
In the
applied to give a more life like appearance may be variously disposed.
case shown the middle pictured or figured line of the back need not coincide with
the back seam.
The front feet can be indicated both on the front, as shown in
Fig. 1, and on the bottom, as shown in Fig. 4.

page_text: If desired a piece of card board or other stiff material may be inserted or attached
at the base to increase the stability of the figure.
Owing to the naturalness of figures made as herein described and to the fact that
they can be easily placed in stable and life-like positions, they prove more attractive
and useful than figures formed with limbs and without sufficient supporting base, as
heretofore. Figures of animal-such as the cat, dog, rabbit, pig and others that
sit upon the haunches-can be thus represented. Others that do not thus sit, and
also birds, can also be represented, though the appearance of the imitations may be
less natural.
The improvement is well adapted to displace the comparatively expensive,
distorted, and unnatural figures usually dragged about by a limb until they lose their
original scanty resemblance to an animal and fail entirely to appeal to or suggest
appropriate perceptions and tastes in the immature minds that it is their object to
interest and develop. The purpose is attained in my invention by a very simple
and economical construction, which is also very durable.
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. The animal figure composed of two suitably shaped pieces of fabric printed or
marked in imitation of an animal and secured together at their edges corresponding
to the upper, front, and rear outline of the animal, and a base piece secured to
their bottom edges to constitute said base, the receptacle thus formed being stuffed
with a filling material, substantially as set forth.
2. The animal figure having a broad and practically flat base and composed of
two suitably shaped pieces of fabric secured together at their edges corresponding
to the upper, front, and rear outline of the animal, and a base piece secured to their
bottom edges to constitute said base, the receptacle thus formed being stuffed with
a filling material, substantially as set forth.
3. The improvements in stuff animal and other figures, substantially as and for
the purposes hereinbefore described set forth and illustrated in the annexed
drawings.
Dated this 18th day of January 1893.
F. W. BARKER,
Applicant's Agent.