An Improved Puzzle Toy.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Sept., 1896--Accepted, 24th Oct., 1896
An Improved Puzzle Toy.
I, ERNST PAUL LEHMANN of No. 6 Plauerstrasse, Brandenburg on the Havel,
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 puzzle-toy designed to produce fictitious translucidity
of objects of any kind, even of such objects as are perfectly impervious to light.
The toy, by which the object of my invention is obtained, consists of an
apparatus containing several spy holes so placed in line as to allow, apparently, a
free peeping through from one end to the other. The casings or boxes containing
such spy holes have an open space or spaces between them, into which space any
suitable object which is desired to appear translucid, may be introduced. By
introducing the said object the line of the consecutive spy holes is interrupted,
and, according to appearance, no light entering into the object spy hole could
reach the ocular spy hole. But, nevertheless, when an impervious object has been
introduced between the spy holes, the eye looking into the ocular hole, beholds
the same object as if the interrupting body had not been introduced. Accordingly,
it will appear as if the body or object introduced into the path of light between
the spy holes was rendered translucid. This puzzling result is obtained by an
arrangement of mirrors within the boxes or casings of the apparatus as hereinafter
more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus ;
Figure 2 an end view of the same';
Figure 3 a plan;
Figure 4, a longitudinal section drawn to line x-x of Figure 3 ;
Figure 5 a transverse section drawn to line y-y of Figure 3; and
Figures 6 to 10 illustrate various details of the apparatus.
In the drawings, A is a box or casing, preferably stamped of sheet metal, the
bottom plate C being secured to the body of the box by folding the edges of the
sheet metal to overlap each other. On the top plate of said casing A are mounted
two or more boxes or casings B, placed in line one behind the other. The said
boxes B are preferably also constructed of sheet metal, as illustrated in Figures 7
and 8, the former being a longitudinal section and the latter a transverse section of
the box B. Lugs formed to the edges of the blanks of sheet metal 'serve to
secure the boxes D to the top plate of box A by paseing said lugs through
corresponding slots in the top plate and then bending the said lugs b to the side.
Within the said boxes B are placed flat strips of sheet metal D, bent to a
corresponding form to fill the boxes B, the vertical forward and end side of the
metal D filling the open ends of the said boxes B. The lower side of said metal
strip D is beut inward and upward; lugs d formed to the edges of the metal serve
to hold a mirror E against the oblique surface, and a plate F of common glass to
the vertical end surface of the metal strip D, as clearly shown in Figures 9 and 10,
the former being a longitudinal section and the latter a bottom plan of the
device. A lug d', formed to the sheet D, fits into a slit provided within the
top plate of box A to hold the metal strip with its mirror and glass plate in
position within the box B.
Another metal strip G is located within the box or casing A. The ends of said
strip G are bent up to an oblique position parallel to the surface holding the

page_text: mirror E, and to said strip G, mirrors H are secured by lugs g bent to overlap
the edges of said mirrors. Recesses gare cut into the ends of the metal strip G
and into said recesses luge a, projecting from the top plate of box A, engage to
hold the metal frame G with its mirrors H in position.
The short ends of wire coil I secured to the outside of the boxes B only serve
to produce the fictitious aspect, as if the result obtained was due to an electric
current.
The mode of using the apparatus is as follows:-
Placing the eye to one of the end spy holes e and directing the object glass to
any object to be seen, the image of said object will be received by the mirror E
opposite the object glass, thence to be reflected to the opposite or parallel mirror H,
arranged below within the box A. From this mirror H, the said image is thrown
into the other mirror H at the opposite side of box A thence to be reflected to the
upper and parallel mirror E where it is seen by the eye at the ocular glass or
spy hole e as if the passage between the ocular spy hole and the object spy hole
was free and as if the eye looked directly through the spy holes in line at the
object aimed at. It will be clear, then, that the said object will be seen quite as
well if any nontransparent object be placed between the boxes B as if the space
between said boxes' be free. As the interior parts of the apparatus cannot be
seen from without and the mirrors are concealed, only the spy holes placed in line
inviting to peep through in a straight line, the puzzling effect is obtained, as if the
object placed between the said spy holes was rendered translucid.
Though the manner of securing the parts of the apparatus to each other by
mechanical means, whereby the manufacture is rendered extremely simple, is
preferable, other means may be employed to fit the several parts to each other and
the mirrors to their holds.
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. A puzzle-toy producing fictitious translúcidity of any objects, consisting of
spy holes placed in line with a space between them to receive any object to be
made to appear translucid, and an arrangement of mirrors conveying the light
entering into the object spy hole indirectly to the ocular spy hole, substantially as
and for the purpose described:
2. A puzzle-toy producing fictitious translucidity of any objects, consisting of
boxes placed behind each other with a free space between them, spy holes provided
in' the ends of said boxes and placed' in line, a mirror arranged opposite the ocular
and object spy hole in an oblique position, a casing having apertures in its
top plate and carrying the said boxes, and mirrors arranged within said casing,
opposite to the mirrors in the said boxes, substantially as and for the purpose
described..
3. A puzzle-toy for producing fictitious translucidity of any objects, consisting
of sheet metal boxes placed behind each other with a free space between them,
spy holes provided in the ends of' said boxes and placed in line, a mirror arranged
opposite the ocular and object spy hole in an oblique position, a sheet metal casing
having apertures in its top plate to which the said boxes are secured by metal
tongues and slits, and mirrors within the said casing opposite the mirrors in the
said boxes, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4. A puzzle-toy for producing fictitious translúcidity of any objects, consisting
of boxes placed behind each other with a free space between them, spy holes
provided in the ends of said boxes and placed in line, a sheet metal strip arranged
within each of said' boxes, suitably, bent to carry, by the aid of bent metal tongues,
a mirror opposite the outer spy hole, a casing carrying the said boxes and having
apertures in its top plate, and mirrors suitably placed within the said casing, the
said mirrors being secured to their sheet metal frame by bent metal tongues,
substantially as and for the purpose described.

page_text: 5. A puzzle-toy producing fictitious translucidity of any objects, consisting of
boxes placed behind each other with a free space between them, spy holes placed
in line within said boxes, mirrors arranged inside the said boxes, and wire coils.
fixed to the outside of the said boxes, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
Dated this 19th day of September 1896.1
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.