Improvements in Toys.
Year: 1894

page_text: Improvements in Toys.
I, TIMOTHY SEARY THORN, of Plainfield, in the County of Union, and State
of New Jersey, United States of America, Gentleman, 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 an improvement in that class of toys which are adapted
to furnish a noise in imitation of an animal's voice, and the object of this invention
is to provide a toy representing a rooster and one which will be capable of
imitating the cries of such fowls, and of moving its wings. These ends I attain
by certain features of construction and combination and arrangement of parts that
will be more fully described hereinafter and finally embodied in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings:
Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of my complete device.
Fig. 2 a longitudinal section thereof.
Fig. 3 a cross section taken through the wings of the fowl.
Fig. 4 a detail perspective of the springs for giving the wings their normal
tendency and for furnishing a means for operating the same.
Fig. 5 a detail perspective of one of the wings showing the devices for attaching
it to the body of the fowl and to the spring arms aforesaid.
The reference numeral 1, indicates the base or platform of my toy and upon
which the form of a rooster 2, is rigidly secured. Arranged at the end of the
platform 1, is the whistle 3 which is the usual tubular whistle, and which does not
need any specific description. This whistle is adapted to be blown by the operator
of the toy and to furnish a noise in imitation of the cry of a rooster. The form of
the fowl 2 is composed essentially of two sheets of metal preferably tin, duplicates
of each other, and provided with the bulging or outwardly-extending portions 4
adapted to lie on either side of the platform 1 and to be rigidly secured thereto,
whereby the fowl is similarly fixed to the platform. The plates composing the
fowl are shaped to form legs 5, and the head 6.
7 indicates the wings which are, of course, two in number and arranged on either
side of the fowl. The wings consist of sheets of tin shaped after the manner of the
wings of such fowls, and having formed integral therewith and extending inwardly
towards the center of the fowl, the arms 8.
Located directly adjacent to the arms 8 and one on either side thereof, are the
strips 9 which are bent to form bearings or eyes for pivotally mounting the wings 7.
This pivotal mounting of the wings is effected by means of the longitudinally-
extending spindles 10, which are one for each wing, and which are rigidly secured
to the interior of the plates composing the fowl. Formed in the sides of the fowl
are the openings 11, which are one for each wing, and which are adapted to receive
the strips 9 so that the wings will be capable of swinging on their mountings and
will not be restrained by any interference with the sides of the fowl. The arms or
studs 8 proceed inwardly, as has been explained, and are pivotally connected to the
upper ends of the respective spring rods 12.
The spring rods 12 extend downwardly from the studs 8, and to a point adjacent
to the upper surface of the platform 1. Here the rods 12 bend at right angles to
the vertical portions and extend rearwardly to a point, preferably, directly under
the rear extremity of the fowl. At this point the rods 12 are formed into the
coiled springs 12 and are rigidly secured to the end of the platform 1. The spring
Price 8d 1

page_text: rods 12 have a tendency upward which will result in a normal tendency of the
wings 7 to lie flush with the sides of the fowl. This tendency may be overcome by
pressing the horizontal portion of the rods 12 which will result in a downward
movement of the vertical portion of such rods and in a consequent downward
movement of the studs 8. As the studs 8 move outwardly the body of the wings
will, of course move upwardly as they swing on their fulcrums.
In the operation of my invention the person using the toy should place the
whistle 3 in his mouth and blow it as is usual. This will result in a sounding of
the whistle and by a little practice the operator can succeed in producing a fair
imitation of a rooster's crow. Simultaneously with this operation, he should to
operate the wings, depress the horizontal portion of the rods 12, whereupon the
wings will be made to rise, and upon releasing the pressure upon the rods to fall,
owing to the spring tendence with which such rods are endowed. Thus it will be
seen that the toy can be made to give the appearance of flapping its wings, which,
together with the sound of the whistle will be quite amusing.
It will be observed that the construction of the toy is very simple and that
there is little liability to any disorder of the parts. This will permit the rough
handling which such devices usually receive and will produce an effective and
desirable toy.
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
1. In a toy, the combination of a base portion, the figure of a fowl mounted
thereon, a wing pivotally mounted in each side of the figure and capable of swinging
on their fulcrums, each of said wings having fixed thereto inwardly-projecting
studs, and a spring-arm arranged within the figure and connected to the studs
said arm being extending out of the figure and secured to the base and having
a normal tendency to cause the wings to lie against the sides of the figure, the
arm being adapted to be depressed so as to raise the wings, substantially as
described.
2. In a toy, the combination of a base or body portion, the figure of a fowl
rigidly secured thereto, a wing pivotally mounted on each side of the figure and
having fixed thereto an inwardly-projecting stud or arm, and a spring-rod pivotally
connected to each of said arms and extending downwardly through the body of the
figure and thence outwardly and horizontally where it is connected to the main or
body portion, said rod being adapted to be depressed to operate the wings and to
automatically return said wings to their normal position when the pressure is
released, substantially as described.
3. A toy comprising in its construction a base portion having a whistle thereon,
the figure of a fowl mounted on the base portion, wings pivoted to the sides of the
fowl, and a spring-arm passing into the body and connected to the wings, the
remaining end of the arm being extended out beyond the fowl and secured to
the base portion so as to be reached by the operator, substantially as described.
Dated this 4th day of December 1894.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.