IMPROVEMENTS IN TOY FIGURES FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES
Year: 1884

page_text: I WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co, Patent
Agents Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare
the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TOY FIGURES FOR
EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES" and in what manner the same is to be performed, to bo
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
This Invention relates to the construction of a toy figure which exposes tho
letters of the alphabet in succession by means of suitable operating mechanism, and
which is provided with other moving parts whereby the toy is rendered attractive
and amusing to children. The Invention comprises the improvements in the
construction of the toy as hereinafter fully set forth.
In the accompanying Drawing:
Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved toy.
Figure 2 is a vertical sectional elevation drawn to an enlarged scale.
Figure 3 is a face view of the wheel containing the letters of the alphabet.
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation at right angles to Figure 2.
Figures 5 and 6 are horizontal sections on the lines x-x and y-y, Figure 2,
respectively.
Figure 7 is a horizontal section on the line z, z, Figure 4.
Figure 8 is a vertical section on the line ww, Figure 2.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several Figures.
A indicates a hollow figure representing a schoolmaster or other suitable
character, and forming the supporting frame for the movable parts of the
mechanism. An opening a is formed in the front plate or portion of the hollow
figure A and is made of the proper size to expose one letter or character at
a time.
B is a movable arm pivotted to one side of the hollow figure A and bent so as to
point toward the opening a. c, c represent the eye-openings in the head of the
figure, and C a movable eye-plate pivotted in the head in rear of the eye-openings,
so as to expose the eyes, which are painted or otherwise represented on the front
side of the plate C, through the openings c.
D is a wheel which is provided on its front side with the letters of the alphabet
or other suitable characters arranged in an annular row. The wheel D is mounted

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within the hollow figure A upon a horizontal arbor d in such manner that the
letters or characters on the wheel are exposed one at a time through the opening a,
as the wheel is turned on its pivot. represents a ratchet ring formed on the rear
side of the wheel D concentric with its axis. e represents the actuating pawl,
and the detent pawl engaging with the ratchet ring d¹ on opposite sides of the
arbor d.
E represents a vertical sliding bar arranged within the hollow figure A and
projecting with its lower end through one of the hollow legs into the hollow
base A¹ of the figure, where it is provided with stops el which limit the upward
movement of the bar E. The bar E is guided in the lower portion of one of the
legs, as shown at 2. e³ is a cross piece or head formed at the upper end of the
bar E. The actuating pawl e is rigidly secured to one side of the cross piece e³ and
held in engagement with the ratchet ring by a spring e*.
g represents an arm formed on the rear side of the pivotted eye plate C, and g¹ is
a rod connecting the arm g with the cross piece e³, so that the eyes are moved
simultaneously with the wheel D.
represents an arm secured to the pivot b of the movable arm B. within the
hollow figure A, and is a rod connecting the arm / with the cross piece e³, so
that the arm is moved simultaneously with the wheel D, thereby calling attention
to the new letter which is exposed by the change in the position of the wheel.
I represents a cross piece rigidly secured within the hollow figure A and
provided with lugs i between which the bar E is guided. The lower end of the
springe is secured to a stud i¹ formed on the bar I and the upper end of said
spring bears against the rear side of the cross piece e³. The detent pawl f is
pivotted to a stud j formed on the bar I and is held in engagement with the ratchet
ring d', by a spring j¹.
K represents a coiled spring interposed between the bar I and a projection
formed on the bar E, so as to return the latter to its lowest position when it is
released.
in the base A¹ and engaging with its
The outer end of the lever L extends
terminates in a thumb piece l.
L represents the actuating lever pivotted
inner end with the lower end of the bar E.
'through a slot in the side of the base A and
The hollow figure with its base is composed of a front and rear portion whose
joint is arranged in a vertical plane transversely to the figure. The front portion
is provided with sockets m for the reception of the pivots of the eye-plate, with a
Bocket n for the reception of the arm "pivot band with sockets o for the reception
of the ends of the cross bar I. The rear portion of the figure is provided with
projections p, q and r respectively which register with the sockets m, n and 'o, and
confine the parts seated therein. The two portions of the base are provided with
sockets s for the reception of the pivot of the lever L. The two parts of the figure
are secured together by suitable screw-bolts t.
'
Upon depressing the outer end of the lever L, the bar E is raised, thereby moving
the wheel D forward the length of one tooth by means of the pawle and swinging
the arm B and the eye plate C downwardly on their pivots. Upon releasing the
lever L the bar E is moved downwardly and returned to its former position by
the reaction of the spring K, and the arm B and the eye plate C are swung
upwardly on their pivots. This movement of the arm B tends to draw the
attention to the new letter which is exposed through the opening a by the move-
ment of the wheel D. The bar E is shown in the elevated position in Figure 2.
As the bar E descends, the actuating pawl e slides over the ratchet teeth and the
detent pawlf prevents any backward movement of the wheel.
Every time the hand lever L is operated, the wheel D is moved so as to expose
a new letter and the arm and eyes are moved at the same time, whereby the
attention of the observer is particularly called to the change which has taken
place, and in this manner the successive appearance of the letters of the alphabet is
accompanied by movements of the figure which render the toy attractive and
entertaining to children.
1

page_text: The several parts of the figure are casily constructed of cast iron and the moving
parts and actuating mechanism are very simple and readily put together.
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
First. The combination with a hollow figure provided at its front with an
opening a, of a wheel D arranged in the said figure and provided with an annular
row of characters which are exposed in part through said opening, and mechanism,
substantially as described, whereby an intermittent rotary motion is imparted to
said wheel, substantially as set forth.
Second. The combination with a hollow figure provided with an opening a, of a
wheel D provided with an annular row of characters, an actuating pawl e, a bar E,
a hand lever L and a detent pawl f, substantially as set forth.
Third. The combination with a hollow figure provided with an opening a, of a
movable wheel D provided with an annular row of characters exposed in part
through the said opening and a movable arm which is actuated simultaneously with
the said wheel, substantially as set forth.
Fourth. The combination with a hollow figure provided with an opening a, of a
movable wheel D provided with an annular row of characters exposed in part
through the said opening and a movable oye plate which is actuated simultaneously
with the said wheel, substantially as set forth.
Fifth. The combination with a hollow figure provided with an opening a, of a
movable wheel D provided with an annular row of characters exposed in part
through the said opening, a movable arm and a movable eye plate which are
actuated simultaneously with the said wheel, substantially as set forth.
Sixth. The combination with the figure A provided with the opening a, and the
wheel D provided with an annular row of characters, of the pivotted arin B
provided with an arm h, the rod E, the pawl e, the connecting rod, and the
hand lever L, substantially as set forth.
Seventh. The combination with the figure A provided with opening a, and the
wheel D provided with an annular row of characters, of the pivotted eye plate C
provided with an aring, the rod E, the pawl e, the connecting rod g¹, and the
hand lever L, substantially as set forth.
Eighth. The combination with the figure A provided with an opening a, and the
wheel D provided with an annular row of characters, of the pivotted arm B
provided with an arm h, a pivotted eye plate C provided with an arm g, a rod E,
the connecting rods h¹, g¹ and the hand lever L, substantially as set forth.
Ninth. The combination with the hollow figure A, of the cross bar I provided
with guide lugs i, the rod E provided with the pawl e, the wheel D, the spring e
and the detent pawlf, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 1st day of September 1884.
HASELTINE, LAKE, & Co.,
For the Applicant.