An Improved Toy.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 10th Oct., 184-Accepted, 10th Nov., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Toy.
I, ERNST PAUL LEHMANN of 9 Plauerstrasse, Brandenburg on the Havel, in
the Kingdom of Prussia, in the Empire of Germany, Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a toy which consists of a ball or body or any suitable
figure, in the hollow inside of which is arranged a spindle on suitable bearings, and
on said spindle is mounted two sheaves of different diameters, acting like the well
known differential pulley block. On each of the said sheaves or drums is secured
a cord, thread, or chain and one of the said cords passes downwards, the other cord
upwards through the shell of the ball or body which encloses the sheaves. As the
free euds of the two separate cords, threads or chains pass out in a direction
directly opposite to each other, it appears as if but one single continuous cord,
thread or chain was passing directly through the ball or body. As the two cords
are wound on to their differential drums or sheaves in opposite directions they will
be wound off and on with a corresponding differential speed and while the cord of
one drum is being wound off, that of the other drum is being wound on.
Accordingly, if the two free ends of the cords outside the ball or body are taken
and held in a vertical or sloping position and one of the cords is pulled, the ball
rises on the cord and, on ceasing to pull, it stops at any desired part of the length
of the tight cords. On releasing the cords, the said ball or body will gradually
move down, as one of the cords is wound up on its drum inside the ball or body.
The downward movement is immediately stopped when the strings are tightened
again.
The sight of the toy, when operated, is puzzling, because the mechanisin of the
pulleys and cords is concealed and the spectator, who does not know the mechanism,
is at a loss to explain how the ball or body apparently traversed by one single cord,
thread or chain, is able to slowly rise on said cord in a vertical direction, stop at
any convenient portion of its length, then gradually descend and also stop at any
place during the descent.
Dated this 9th day of January 1894.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.
I, ERNST PAUL LEHMANN of 9 Plauerstrasse, Brandenburg on the Havel in
the Kingdom of Prussia in the Empire of Germany, Manufacturer, 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 :-
My invention relates to a toy which consists of a hollow ball or body or any
suitable figure, in the hollow interior of which is arranged a spindle in suitable
bearings, and on said spindle are mounted two drums or rollers of different diameter,
acting like the well-known differential pulley-block. On each of the said drums
or rollers is secured a cord, string, thread, band or chain, and one of the said cords

page_text: etcetera passes downwards, the other upwards through the shell of the ball or body
which encloses the drums. As the free ends of the two separate cords, strings,
threads, bands or chains pass out in a direction directly opposite to each other,
appears as if but one single, continuous cord or the like was passing directly
through the ball or body. Indeed, the two lengths of cord or the like may form
one continuous length, one half of which is secured to one of the drums and the
other half to the other drum, each half being wound on and off, to and from its
respective drum independently of the other half.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a central vertical section of the toy which, in this case, has the
shape of a ball,
Figure 2 is an outside view of the same.
A, is the shell or casing, being made of two halves soldered together. B, is the
spindle arranged to turn in suitable bearings b within the ball A. The said
shaft B carries two drums or rollers C and C¹ of different diameter, each drum
having a flange cat or toward the outer end, a central flange eserving to separate
the two drums. D D¹ are cords, strings, threads, bands or chains, one of which is
secured to the drum C and the other to the drum C¹. Or the said cords or the
like may form one continuous length, passing from one drum to the other through
an aperture in the central flange c¹ and be secured thereto by a knot, thus acting,
virtually, like two separate cords. One cord or end of the cord, passes down
through an aperture in the shell A and the other cord or end of the continuous
cord passes upwards through an aperture opposite to the lower aperture.
As the two cords are wound on to their respective drums in opposite directions,
one cord will be wound on, while the other is being wound off, with a differential
speed, corresponding to the difference in diameter of the two drums. Accordingly.
if the two free ends of the cord or cords, to which handles may be attached, are
seized and held in a vertical or sloping position and one of the cords is pulled, the
ball rises
or descends on the cord from the lower end upwards, or from the upper
end downwards. On ceasing to pull, the ball stops at any desired portion of the
length of the tight cords. On releasing the cords the ball or body will gradually
move downwards, as one of the cords is being wound up on its drum inside the
ball or body. The downward movement is stopped when both cords or strings are
tightened again.
The sight of the toy, when operated, is puzzling because the mechanism of the
pulleys and cords is concealed and the spectator, who does not know the mechanism,
is at a loss to explain, how the ball or body, apparently traversed in a direct line
by one single and straight cord, string, thread, band or chain, is able to slowly rise
on said cord etcetera in a vertical or steep direction, stop at any convenient portion
of the length then gradually descend and also stop at will during the downward
motion.
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
A toy consisting of a pair of drums or rollers mounted on a common spindle and
arranged to turn inside a concealing ball, or hollow body or figure, each drum
having secured to it a cord, string, thread, band or chain, or one half of a continuous
length of cord, string, thread, band or chain, the free ends of the said cord, or
cords or the like passing out of the concealing shell in opposite directions,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 9th day of October 1894.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.