IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO MECHANICAL TOYS to be as follows :
Year: 1885

page_text: I, HENRY HARRIS 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 AND RELATING TO MECHANICAL TOYS
to be as follows :—
"
The objects of this invention are to provide a mechanical toy in which toy
figures, such for example as miniature figures of men or animals, may receive a
progressive movement closely imitating that of walking, thereby affording a
pleasing means of recreation and amusement; and to provide figures operated
with a movement closely resembling that of walking, in such manner that two
or more such figures may have a differential movement with regard to each other
in such manner as to closely resemble a walking match, the figures being capable
of approaching and passing each other with variable speeds and at variable
intervals, and with no apparent predetermined order of succession, thereby greatly
increasing the value, utility and interest of the invention as a means of amusement.
The said invention comprises certain novel means, hereinafter set forth, whereby
these objects are secured.
In carrying the said invention into practice I provide a roller supported on
suitable journals or gudgeons in any suitable frame-work or support as hereinafter
set forth. This roller is provided upon its circumference with what I term
gripping surfaces which may be either projecting teeth or merely roughened or
friction-producing surfaces, so arranged that when said surfaces act upon the
belts or aprons as hereinafter described the movement of said belts or aprons
will sometimes be accelerated and at other times slackened, or even stopped
altogether. A bar of cylindrical or other suitable shape is placed in a position
substantially parallel with that of the said roller. This bar is preferably fixed;
it may however, in certain contingencies, be permitted to revolve on its axis after
the manner of a roller.
Endless belts or aprons placed parallel with each other are passed over the said
roller and bar, the roller adjacent to each of the belts or aprons passing over the
same as provided with roughened surfaces.

page_text: As concerns each pair of belts or aprons, one of the pair is actuated by the
roughened or friction-producing surface (or by the equivalent of such surface) at
one side of the roller, while the other of the belts or aprons composing said pair is
actuated by a like friction-producing surface at the opposite side of said roller, so
that the two belts or aprons are actuated alternately. In lieu of the friction-
producing surfaces, shoulders or projections similarly situated on the rollers, may be
employed, or in lieu of such devices radial teeth on the roller, entering holes in the
belts or aprons, may be employed, or flexible slips of india-rubber inserted radially
in the rollers and bending when in contact with the belts or aprons so as to act
thereon with a considerable frictional surface, may be used, or if desired, elastic
knobs or studs of india-rubber may be employed.
In practice, the belts or endless aprons are tightened over the roller to such an
extent that the rotation of the latter will cause the shoulders or projections, or
their equivalents herein indicated, to act upon the said belts or aprons and by
elongating the same thereby increasing the frictional or propelling grip of said
roller against the contiguous surfaces of said belts or aprons to rotate or move the
same; this propelling action continues during the contact of the shoulders, pro-
jections, or equivalents thereof with the belt or aprons. In other words, as each of
said shoulders or projections or its equivalent as aforesaid is brought upward in
contact with the contiguous belt or apron by reason of the increased gripping or
driving action of the said shoulders or projections an increased rapidity is given
to the movement of the belt or apron.
When the radius of the roller extended through such shoulder is greater than the
radius at other portions of the circumference of the roller, the increased speed may
be in a measure due to such relatively increased radius of the driving roller, and
inasmuch as the shoulders alternate upon the opposite sides of the roller it follows
that this accelerated movement of the belts or aprons of each pair is alternating;
as the straightening or elongation of the belts or aprons increases their tension
upon the roller it follows that their propulsion by the projections or shoulders is
Secured, although otherwise, that is to say when not acted upon by said projections
or shoulders (or their equivalents) the said belts or aprons, even though acted upon
by the bar hereinafter described, are sufficiently slack to permit the movement of
the roller without moving the belts or aprons.
When the driving surface of the roller, as for example the roughened surface, is
flush with the circumference of the roller, or when the toothed modification is used,
the belts or aprons will slip on the roller except when acted upon by the driving
surfaces; the whole of the movement of the belts or aprons is in such case due to
the traction of the roller upon the belt or apron.
In order that the belts or aprons may have the requisite drag or tension upon
the roller it is desirable that a device such as an idler pulley be used to take up
the slack of the belts or aprons as the shoulders or projections pass out of contact
therewith, thereby causing the said belts or aprons to pass upon the diminished
circumference of the said roller. This may be accomplished by means of a bar or
weight which may be of cylindrical form, placed upon the lower portions of the
said belts or aprons, and retained in position by a suitably stiff plate, which latter
may be of wood, metal, or other suitable material and extend inward from the bar
but which is sufficiently flexible to allow the bar to press downward upon the belts
or aprons. To further assist the dragging action of the belts or aprons to ensure
the closer contact of the driving or gripping surfaces or devices of the roller there
may be placed underneath the belts a fixed table which may be supported upon
a frame-work, which latter may be employed for supporting the herein before
mentioned portions of the apparatus.
The roller being rotated, the belts or aprons will move, and inasmuch as the
upper portions of said belts or aprons pass upon the upper side of the said table,
it follows that the friction exerted upon the said belts or aprons causes them to
resist to a certain extent the action of the roller, thereby ensuring a sufficient

page_text: adhesion of the belts or aprons upon the said roller to ensure their movement by
the rotation of the roller.
As each belt is accelerated when acted upon by the adjacent shoulder or
projection, and as these projections alternate as hereinbefore explained, it follows
that the increased movement during each relation of each belt or apron will
alternate with the corresponding increased movement of the belts or aprons
immediately adjoining the same.
It is to be understood that the parts may be so constructed and arranged that
instead of a slow movement of each belt alternating with the rapid movement of
said belt each belt itself may be allowed to become nearly or quite stationary
during the intervals between the action of the shoulders or projections upon the
belts or aprons.
In order to prevent the belts or aprons from slipping laterally out of their
places, fixed guides are provided upon the table near the roller, thereby preventing
any movement or displacement of said belts or aprons during their operation as
aforesaid a modification hereinafter described.
When desired the roller may be constructed of varying diameters thus, for
example, that portion of the roller assigned to carry or operate any given pair of
belts or aprons may be of a given diameter while those for another pair of belts
or aprons may be of a greater or less diameter and so on for any desired number
of belts or aprons.
It is to be understood that a rotatory motion is to be given to the roller. This
may be done by any suitable means as, for example by the use of a crank. For
convenience this crank may be made detachable and constructed to be applied
when required to the shaft or gudgeons of the roller in the same manner that
detachable cranks are ordinarily applied for the temporary rotation of shafts or
gearing.
The body of the figure to which the walking movement is to be given may be
constructed in any suitable manner. The legs, however, are flexible, and preferably
formed of coiled wire, the upper ends being attached to the body while the lower
ends are attached to the endless belts or aprons. When desired the flexible legs
may be made of india rubber tubing, or of any other material which will be
sufficiently flexible to permit their lower ends to follow the alternating movements
of the belts or aprons as hereinafter explained.
As each figure has its two legs attached one of them to one belt or apron of a
pair of the latter, and the other of them to the other belt or apron of said pair, and
as the two belts or aprons of said pair alternate with each other in their movements
they communicate a correspondingly alternating movement to the lower ends of
the legs of the figure in a direction coincident with that in which the belts or
aprons are moved, thereby causing the said figure to advance with a movement of
the legs imitating that of a human being in walking.
Each pair of belts or aprons being made to move at a speed greater or less as
the case may be, than that of the other pairs which may be included in the
apparatus, the figures carried and operated as described, will approach and recede
from each other, some of the figures overtaking and passing others of the figures.
Although this relative movement of the different figures is a result of the
proportionate speed of the several pairs of belts or aprons, yet this is not apparent
to the onlooker, and the amusement caused by the apparent racing of the figures is
practically as great as if it depended upon chance or upon some property inherent
in the figures themselves.
Where but two belts or aprons are employed any desired number of figures may
be applied in connection therewith, which said figures will apparently follow
each other with a walking movement more or less amusing in appearance. By
multiplying the number of pairs of belts or aprons, a differential movement as
between the figures of the different pairs of the belts or aprons is caused as
hereinafter explained.

page_text: An apparatus embracing the various features of my said invention may be very
cheaply constructed. It is found by trial to be an interesting and amusing toy,
and one capable of exciting in children and others, great interest, in the comical
movements of the figures and in their relative speed.
It is to be understood that, when desired, the figures instead of representing
human beings may have the form of quadrupeds, two of the legs being attached
to one of the belts or aprons of a pair, while the other two of said legs, are
attached to the other belt or apron of the pair.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
"
I HENRY HARRIS 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 AND RELATING TO MECHANICAL TOYS
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
--
The objects of this invention are to provide a mechanical toy in which toy
figures, such for example as miniature figures of men or animals, may receive a
progressive movement closely imitating that of walking, thereby affording a pleasing
means of recreation and amusement; and to provide figures operated in such
manner that two or more such figures may have a differential movement with
regard to each other so as to closely resemble a walking match, the figures being
capable of approaching and passing each other with variable speeds and at variable
intervals, and with no apparent predetermined order of succession, thereby
greatly increasing the value, utility and interest of the invention as a means of
amusement.
The said invention comprises certain novel means, hereinafter fully set forth,
whereby these objects are secured.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a perspective view and
Figure 2 a plan view showing mechanical devices in their relation to the
miniature figures to be moved or operated as hereinbefore explained.
Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken in the line y y of
Figure 1.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 are sectional views drawn to an enlarged scale representing
one of the parts included in the mechanism aforesaid.
Figure 7 is a view also drawn to an enlarged scale of a portion of the mechanism,
shown in Figure 2.
Figure 8 is a sectional view on the line z z Figure 7.
Figures 9 and 10 are views illustrating a modified construction of the mechanism.
Figure 11 is a sectional view on the line u u Figure 9 and
Figure 12 is a similar view on the line ww Figure 9.
Figure 13 is a view illustrating the manner in which the miniature figures are
arranged in relation to the endless belts or aprons through or by means of which
the walking movement is given to the said figures; and
Figure 14 is a similar view showing a special construction of the flexible legs of
toy figures such as may be used with the said invention, said special construction
constituting one feature of this invention.
A is a roller supported on suitable journals or gudgeons in any suitable frame
work or support as hereinafter set forth. This roller is provided upon its circum-
ference with what I term gripping surfaces which may be either projecting teeth or
merely roughened or friction producing surfaces, so arranged that when said
surfaces act upon the belts or aprons as hereinafter described the movement of

page_text: said belts or aprons will be accelerated and at other times slackened or even
stopped altogether.
B is a bar of cylindrical or any other suitable shape placed in a position sub-
stantially parallel with that of the roller A. It is designed that this bar should be
fixed. It may however in certain contingencies be permitted to revolve on its
axis after the manner of a roller.
CC are endless belts or aprons placed parallel with each other and passed over
the roller A and bar B as indicated in Figure 3.
The roller A adjacent to each of the belts or aprons C passing over the same is
provided with a shoulder or projection a, or in lieu thereof with a roughened
surface which, as shown in Figure 4, may be provided upon the shoulder or pro-
jection but which when desired may be flush with the surface of the roller. As
concerns each pair of belts or aprons C one of the belts or aprons composing the
pair is actuated by the roughened or friction producing surface (or by the equivalent
of such surface) at one side of the roller, while the other of the belts or aprons
composing said pair is actuated by a like friction producing surface at the opposita
side of said roller, so that the two belts or aprons are actuated alternately.
In lieu of the friction producing surfaces, shoulders or projections similarly
situated on the rollers may be employed, for instance teeth projecting radially from
the roller and entering holes in the belts or aprons as indicated in Figure 11 may
be employed; or flexible slips of india-rubber inserted radially in the rollers, as
shown in Figure 5, said slips bending when in contact with the belts or aprons so
as to act thereon with a considerable frictional surface may be used, or if desired
elastic knobs or studs of india-rubber may be used as indicated in Figure 6.
In practice the belts or endless aprons C are tightened over the roller A, to such
an extent that the rotation of the latter will cause the shoulders or projections, or
their equivalents herein indicated, to act upon the said belts or aprons, and, by
straightening or stretching the same, increase the frictional or propelling grip of
said roller against the contiguous surfaces of said belts or aprons to rotate or move
the same. This propelling action of the shoulders continues during the contact of
the shoulders or projections or equivalents thereof with the belts or aprons.
other words as each of said shoulders or projections a, or the equivalent thereof as
aforesaid, is brought upward in contact with the contiguous belt or apron C, by
reason of the increased gripping or driving action of the shoulders or projections
an increased rapidity is given to the movement of the belt or apron.
In
When the radius of the roller A through the said shoulders is greater than the
radius at other portions of the roller the increased speed may be in a measure due
to such relatively increased radius of the driving roller, and inasmuch as the
shoulders a alternate upon opposite sides of the roller A, it follows that this
accelerated movement of the two belts or aprons of each pair alternate, first one
moving faster and then the other. By this means an alternating movement may
be transmitted from the said belts or aprons to any appropriate mechanism.
As the straightening or stretching of the belts or aprons increases their tension
upon the roller, it follows that their propulsion by the projections or shoulders is
secured, although otherwise, that is to say when not acted upon by said projections
or shoulders (or their equivalents) the said belts or aprons, even though acted upon
by the bar D, hereinafter described, are sufficiently slack to permit the movement
of the roller without moving the belts or aprons. When the driving surface of
the roller, as for example the roughened surface, is flush with the circumference of
the roller, or when the toothed modification is used, the belts or aprons will slip
on the roller except when acted upon by the driving surfaces, the whole of the
movement of the belts or aprons being in such case due to the traction of the
roller upon the belt or apron.
In order that the belts or aprons C may have the requisite drag or tension upon
the roller A, it is desirable that a device such as an idler pulley be used to take up
the slack of the belts or aprons as the shoulders or projections a pass out of

page_text: contact therewith, thereby causing the said belts or aprons to pass upon the
diminished circumference of the said roller. This may be accomplished by means
of a bar or weight D, (which may be of cylindrical form) placed upon the lower
portions 6 of the said belts or aprons, and retained in position by a suitable stiff
plate c, which latter may be of wood, metal or other material extended inward
from the bar B, but which is sufficiently flexible to allow the bar D to press
downward upon the belts or aprons C.
To further assist the dragging action of the belts or aprons C, to ensure the
closer contact of the driving or gripping surfaces or devices of the roller A, there
may be placed underneath the said belts or aprons a fixed table E supported upon
a frame-work F, which latter may be employed for supporting the hereinbefore
mentioned portions of the apparatus.
The roller A being rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 3
will move the belts or aprons in a direction indicated by the horizontal arrows in
said figure, and inasmuch as the upper portions of said belts or aprons pass over
the upper side of the table E, it follows that the friction exerted upon the said
belts or aprons causes them to resist to a certain extent the action of the roller A,
thereby ensuring a sufficient adhesion of the belts or aprons upon the said roller to
ensure their rotation by the rotation of the roller. As each belt is accelerated
when acted upon by the adjacent shoulder or projection a, and as these projections
alternate as herein before explained, it follows that the increased movement during
each revolution of each belt or apron will alternate with the corresponding
increased movement of the belts or aprons immediately adjoining the same.
It is to be understood that the parts may be so constructed and arranged that
instead of a slow movement of each belt alternating with the rapid movement of
said belt, each belt itself may be allowed to become nearly or quite stationary
during the intervals between the action of the shoulder or projection a upon the
belts or aprons.
In order to prevent the belts or aprons from slipping laterally out of their
places, fixed guides I are provided upon the table E near the roller A, thereby
preventing any sidewise movement or displacement of said belts or aprons during
their operation as aforesaid. In the modification hereinafter described with
reference to Figures 9 to 12 inclusive, these guides may, if desired, be dispensed
with.
Instead of the precise construction hereinbefore explained, in which the belts or
aprons are actuated by the frictional contact of the circumference of the roller A
upon them, the said belts may be made with openings or perforations m as
indicated in Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12. In this case the shoulders or projections a
constitute teeth, the roller A being provided with one of these teeth or projections a
for each of the perforated belts or aprons the latter being indicated by the same
reference letter as in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, so that at each revolution of the
roller A, the tooth or projection a, will pass into one of the openings m, and
communicate an impetus or forward movement to the belt or aprons which
movement continues during half of a revolution of the roller, or until the tooth or
projection passes out of the opening during the continued rotation of the roller.
By the time this is done the next adjacent tooth or projection a in like manner
passes into the adjacent opening or perforation m, of the next adjacent belt or
apron and imparts motion thereto, while the first belt or apron being released from
the action of the adjacent tooth or projection a, runs loosely upon the roller, so
that by this means the two adjacent belts of each pair receive an alternating
motion, each belt or apron being moved during one-half a rotation of the roller,
and being substantially stationary during the other half of the rotation.
When desired the roller A whether made as represented in Figures 3, 5 and 6
or made according to the modification shown in Figures 9 to 12 inclusive may be
constructed of varying diameter substantially as illustrated in Figures 9 and 10.
Thus for example, that portion of the roller designed to carry or operate any given

page_text: pair of belts or aprons may be of a given diameter, while that for another pair of
belts or aprons may be of a greater or less diameter and so on for any desired
number of belts or aprons.
When the modification illustrated in Figures 9 to 12 inclusive is employed, the
teeth or projections a serve in a great measure to retain the belts or aprons against
lateral displacement. But when desired, the guides I may be applied in connection
with said belts or aprons, and the roller toothed as aforesaid to more securely retain
the belts or aprons against lateral displacement.
It is to be understood that a rotatory motion as indicated by the arrow in
Figure 3 is to be imparted to the roller A. This may be done by any suitable
means, as, for example, by the use of a crank A2, as indicated in Figures 1 and 2.
For convenience this crank may be made detachable and constructed to be applied
when required to the shaft or gudgeons of the roller A, in the same manner that
detachable cranks are ordinarily applied for the temporary rotation of shafts or
gearing.
The figure to which the walking movement is to be given may be constructed in
any suitable manner, as for example as represented in Figure 13, in which the
body A¹, fitted with an appropriate head a' and if desired with arms b', has legs B¹
which are flexible and preferably formed of coiled wire, the upper ends being
attached to the body A¹, while the lower ends are attached to the endless belts or
aprons C. When desired the flexible legs B' may be made of india rubber tubing
as represented in Figure 14 or of any other material which will be sufficiently
flexible to permit their lower ends to follow the alternating movements of the belts
or aprons C as hereinafter explained.
It will be observed that as each figure has its two legs attached one of them to
one belt or apron of a pair of the latter, and the other of them to the other belt or
apron of said pair, and as the two belts or aprons of said pair alternate with
each other in their movements, they communicate a correspondingly alternating
movement to the lower ends of the legs of the figure in a direction coincident with
that in which the belts or aprons are moved, thereby causing the said figure to
advance with a movement of the legs imitating that of a human being in walking.
It will further be observed that, each pair of belts or aprons being made to move
at a speed greater or less, as the case may be, than that of the other pairs which
may be included in the apparatus, the figures carried and operated as described,
will approach and recede from each other, some of the figures overtaking and
passing others of the figures, and that although this relative movement of the
different figures is of course a result of the proportionate speed of the several pairs
of belts or aprons, yet this is not apparent to the on looker, and the amusement
caused by the apparent racing of the figures is practically as great as if it depended
upon chance or upon some property inherent in the figures themselves.
It will further be observed that where but two belts or aprons are employed
any desired number of figures may be applied in connection therewith, which
figures will apparently follow each other with a walking movement more or less
amusing in appearance; and that by multiplying the number of pairs of belts or
aprons, a differential movement as between the figures of the different pairs of the
belts or aprons is caused as herein before explained. Each figure is carried around
with the revolution of the two belts with which it is connected, as indicated in
Figure 3.
An apparatus embracing the various features of my said invention may be very
cheaply constructed. It is found by trial to be an interesting and amusing toy,
and one capable of exciting in children and others, great interest, by reason of the
comical movements of the figures and their relative speeds.
It is to be understood that when desired, the figures instead of representing
human beings may have four legs B₁ instead of two, two of the legs of the
quadrupedal figure being attached to one of the belts or aprons of a pair, while the
other two of said legs, are attached to the other belt or apron of the pair.

page_text: 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 the flexible legs of a toy figure, of endless belts or
aprons C; a roller A constructed with gripping surfaces or devices a at different
portions of its circumference; and a bar or support B, all substantially as, and for
the purpose, herein set forth.
Second. The combination with the flexible legs of a toy figure, of endless belts
or aprons C; a roller A constructed with gripping surfaces or devices a at different
portions of its circumference; a bar or support B; and an idler-bar D, all
substantially as, and for the purpose, herein set forth.
Third. The combination with the flexible legs of a toy figure, of endless belts or
aprons C; a roller A constructed with gripping surfaces or devices a at different
portions of its circumference; a bar or support B; and a table E, all substantially
as, and for the purpose, herein set forth.
Fourth. The combination with the flexible legs of a toy figure, of endless belts or
aprons C; a roller A constructed with gripping surfaces or devices a at different
portions of its circumference; a bar or support B; an idler-bar D; and a table E,
all substantially as, and for the purpose, herein set forth.
Fifth. The combination with the flexible legs of a toy figure, of endless belts or
aprons C; a roller A constructed with gripping surfaces or devices a at different
portions of its circumference; a bar or support B; and guides I, all substantially
as, and for the purpose, herein set forth.
Sixth. The combination with the flexible legs of a toy figure, of endless belts or
aprons C; a roller A constructed with gripping surfaces or devices a at different
portions of its circumference; a bar or support B; an idler-bar D; and guides I;
all substantially as, and for the purpose, herein set forth.
Seventh. The combination with the flexible legs of a toy figure, of endless belts
or aprons C; a roller A constructed with gripping surfaces or devices a at different
portions of the circumference; a bar or support B; a table E; and guides I, all
substantially as, and for the purpose, herein set forth.
Eighth. The combination with the flexible legs of a toy figure, of endless belts or
aprons C; a roller A constructed with gripping surfaces or devices a at different
portions of its circumference; a bar or support B; an idler-bar D; a table E; and
guides I, all substantially as, and for the purpose, herein set forth.
Ninth. The combination with a suitable body, of tubular limbs formed of coiled
wire, to form a toy figure, substantially as, and for the purpose, herein set forth.
Dated this 21st day of March 1885
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.