Improvements in Means for Actuating the Legs of Animals in Merry-go-rounds, or those of Toy Animals, or the Limbs of Figures in Imitation of Human Beings.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Mar., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 31st Jan., 1995-Accepted, 2nd Mar.. 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Actuating the Legs of Animals in
Merry-go-rounds, or those of Toy Animals, or the Limbs of
Figures in Imitation of Human Beings.
We, THOMAS GARE, of 25, Booth Street, Edgeley, Stockport, in the County of
Chester, Engineer, and THOMAS SEPTIMUS HARDEMAN, of 7, Back George Street,
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Cloth Merchant, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object to provide means whereby any desired motion
can be imparted to the legs of animals in merry-go-rounds or to those of toy
animals or to the limbs of figures in imitation of human beings and thus imitate in
a most natural way walking, running, trotting or galloping as the case may be.
To this end we couple to the lower portion of the said legs or limbs or to any
other suitable part thereof a reciprocal motion which moves the respective part in
unison with the others jointed thereto and which is capable of adjustment in such
a manner as to cause the point of connection between the said reciprocal motion
aud that of the said leg or limb to describe on its forward movement a portion of a
true circle or a semi-parabolic curve and on its return a nearly straight line.
The said reciprocal motion consists of a crank or crank pin suitably mounted,
rotated and connected to a vertical lever between the two ends thereof. The
upper end of this lever is hinged to the lower portion of the said leg or limb or
any other suitable part thereof and the lower end horizontally or vertically
adjustable to a rocking lever the fulcrum of which is also rendered horizontally or
vertically adjustable. On rotary motion being imparted to the said crank or crank
pin the end of the lever which is hinged to the lower end of the said leg, limb or
to any other suitable part thereof is caused either to gradually rise and fall and
thereby describe a portion of a circle or curve on its forward or backward movement
or on its return a nearly straight line as may be predetermined by varying the
aforesaid lever centres or fulcrums.
A modification of our invention consists in dispensing with the aforesaid rocking
lever and hinging to the lower end of the said crank or crank pin lever a rod or
piece adapted to slide in a socket or guide.
Dated this 30th day of March 1894.
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
Agents to Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Actuating the Legs of Animals in
Merry-go-rounds, or those of Toy Animals, or the Limbs of
Figures in Imitation of Human Beings.
We, THOMAS GARE, of 25, Booth Street, Edgeley, Stockport, in the County of
Chester, Engineer, and THOMAS SEPTIMUS HARDEMAN, of 7, Back George Street,
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Cloth Merchant, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention aud in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention has for its object to provide means whereby any desired motion
can be imparted to the legs of animals in merry-go-rounds or to those of toy

page_text: animals or the limbs of figures in imitation of human beings and thus imitate in a
most natural way walking, running, trotting or galloping as the case may be.
To this end we couple to the lower portion of each of the said legs or limbs or
to any other suitable part thereof a reciprocal motion which moves the respective
part in unison with the others jointed thereto and which is capable of adjustment
in such a manner as to cause the point of connection between the said reciprocal
motion and that of the said leg or limb to describe on its forward movement :
portion of a true circle or a semi-parabolic curve and on its return a nearly
straight line.
And in order that our invention may be more fully understood we have caused
to be appended hereunto one sheet of drawings marked with letters of reference
indicating like parts in the various figures.
Fig. 1 is a side view, Fig. 2 a plan and Fig. 3 an end view of our improved
nicans as employed for actuating the legs of animals in merry-go-rounds.
Figs. 4 & 5 are respectively a diagram and a modification of the respective lever
arrangement.
In carrying out our invention the said reciprocal motion consists of a crank a
(or crank pin) formed on or carried by a shaft a suitably mounted and rotated.
On the crank a is adapted to oscillate a lever the upper end of which is hinged
to the lower portion of the lege (or limb) or any other suitable part thereof and
the lower end to a rocking lever d, the fulcrum d' of which, as well as its point
of connection 2 with the lever b, being rendered horizontally vertically adjustable.
On rotary motion being imparted to the crank a the end of the lever 6 which is
hinged to the lower end of the leg (or limb) or to any other suitable part thereof,
is caused to gradually rise and then fall and thereby describe a portion of a circle,
see Fig. 1, or a curve, see Fig. 4, on its forward movement and on its return
movement a nearly straight line as may be predetermined by adjusting the
fulcrum d of the lever d and its point of connection d² with the lever b.
C
Referring to Fig. 5, a modification of our invention consists in dispensing with
the rocking lever d and hinging to the lower end of the crank lever a rod or
piece e adapted to slide in a socket or guide f. The said animals (or figures) may
be supported on a rotary platform g, carrying the cranks and lever motion
described, or be suitably suspended, so as to allow the legs to move freely whilst
the crank shaft a¹ may be rotated by any suitable means, for instance, by a wheel h
secured upon
the same and arranged in frictional contact with a floor or stationary
platform i.
In the case of animals in order to move the front and hind legs in unison the
respective crank or pin shafts a¹³ are suitably geared up, as for instance as shown
in Fig. 2.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim, is-
"In merry-go-rounds or toy animals or figures in imitation of human beings."
1st. The combination with a crank a (or crank pin) of a lever b adapted to
oscillate thereon, and rise and fall therewith, the upper end of which lever is
hinged to the lege (or limb) and the lower end to a rocking lever d, all substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
2nd. In a crank and lever motion, as specified in the preceding claim, arranging
the fulcrum d¹ and its point of connection d2 with the lever b of the rocking lever d
adjustable, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 30th day of January 1895.
F. BOSSHARDT & Co.,
4, Corporation Street, Manchester, Agents to Applicants