Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Sept., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 2nd June, 1897-Accepted, 17th July, 1897.
I, JOHN CRABTREE, Engineer, of Witham Lodge, Bracebridge, in the County of
Lincoln, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention for improvements in mechanical toys has for its object to provide a
toy mechanical bicycle mounted on a suitable support or base and having a
doll or figure mounted thereon.
In a toy constructed according to this invention the bicycle frame is stamped from
a plate either in one with the handle bar or with a separate handle bar, of wire or the
like.
The wheels are mounted in this frame and are both provided with small
driving pulleys. A spring driving axle is mounted in the frame at the bottom end
between the two wheels and is provided with a driving pulley. An elastic band
passes over the pulleys on the wheels and spring axle crank arms are fixed on the
spring axle and a female figure preferably of tin or wood formed flat and without
appreciable thickness is mounted on the cycle with a skirt extending over and
covering the pedals. The legs of the figure are jointed and the ends representing
the feet are pinned or jointed to the pedals at each side. The frame is mounted on
suitable supports so that the wheels are free to revolve.
In operation the spring is wound up by turning one of the pedals and on being
released the reaction causes the pedals and wheels to rotate moving also the legs of
the figure at the same time presenting the appearance of a female figure driving the
wheels of the bicycle.
I, JOHN CRABTREE, Engineer, of Witham Lodge, Bracebridge, in the County of
Lincoln, 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 for improvements in mechanical toys has for its object to provide a
toy mechanical bicycle mounted on a suitable stationary support or base and having
a doll or figure mounted thereon.
In a toy constructed according to this invention, the bicycle frame is stamped or
cut from a plate, or otherwise constructed either in one with the handle bar or with

page_text: a separate handle bar, of wire or the like. The wheels are mounted in this frame and
are both provided with small driving pulleys. A spring driving axle is mounted in
the frame and between the two wheels, or underneath, and is provided with a
driving pulley or pulleys. An elastic band or chain passes over the pulleys on the
wheels and spring axle. Crank arms are fixed on the spring axle and a female figure
preferably of tin or wire, is mounted on the cycle with a skirt extending over and
covering the spring axle or gear. The legs of the figure are jointed and the ends
representing the feet are pinned or jointed to the pedals at each side. The frame is
mounted on suitable supports preferably on four thin steel wire legs so that the
wheels are free to revolve. A male figure may be similarly operated.
In operation the spring is wound up by turning one of the pedals, or by means of
a key, and on being released the reaction causes the pedals and wheels to rotate
moving also the legs of the figure at the same time presenting the appearance of a
figure driving the wheels of the bicycle.
When the driving spring is placed underneath the toy cycles the wheels of the
cycle may be operated by a friction wheel or wheels instead of by a strap or chain.
The accompanying drawings show a toy constructed according to this invention.
The model cycle consisting of the frame a and wheels b is mounted in the stationary
stand c so that the wheels are free to rotate. The crank axle d mounted in the frame, is
connected to the spring driving mechanism e so that it can be driven by it. On the
axle d are two pulleys f connected by elastic or other driving bands g to
pulleys h fixed on the axles of the wheels b, the wheels b being fixed on the axle and
the axle being free to revolve in bearings in the stationary stand c. The main
driving axle d is provided with cranks in which are pins that are jointed to the
feet m of the doll figure. The lower part of the figure consists of the jointed limbs n
and the upright o to which is fixed the upper part of the figure. The jointed limbs n
are hidden by the skirt p.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
A toy cycle consisting of a stationary working model cycle of a stand supporting
the cycle, of a spring mechanisin driving the cycle, and a jointed figure mounted on
the cycle and having its legs jointed to the crank or pedal pins so that the legs are
moved up and down imitating the action of a cycle rider and giving the appearance
that the cycle is driven by the figure.
Dated this Second day of June 1807