A New or Improved Mechanical Toy or Game.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 21st Aug., 1894-Accepted, 15th Sept., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Mechanical Toy or Game.
We, ARTHUR JOSEPH BENN of Stainton House Carter Gate, Great Grimsby,
Lincolnshire, General Commissioner, and WILLIAM BULMER SIMPSON of
Stainton House, Carter Gate, Great Grimsby Lincolnshire, Surgeon, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
Our invention consists of a new or improved mechanical toy or game, and may
be thus described :-The base or platform consists of a flat piece of wood, of any
convenient size, but preferably not larger than about sixteen inches long, by
twelve inches broad, one end being left square, the other end being cut to a
triangular shape, having the sharp point at the apex slightly rounded off. At
each of the corners of the square end of the platform is placed an upright standard
or peg, and at a distance of about twelve inches, and at right angles to these
standards are placed two similar standards, a square being thus formed. These
standards are fitted into sockets in the platform, and can be removed at will. Upon
the top of each of the above mentioned standards is placed a crossbar, consisting of
two pieces of wood, or other suitable material fastened together in a cruciform
shape, and revolving freely upon a pin, which passes through its centre, and into
the top of the standard. At each of the four ends of these crossbars is a pin
working & swinging freely, and connected with the end of the crossbar by a small
bolt through its centre. Figures, such as soldiers, are fitted loosely upon the upper
parts of these pins, while counterpoises are attached to the lower ends of the pins,
of sufficient weight to balance the figures and keep them erect, when placed in
position upon the upper portion of the pins.
"
In the centre of the square formed upon the base or platform, by the standards
or pegs already described is an arrangenient somewhat similar in appearance to the
governors" upon an ordinary steam engine, that is to say, there is a vertical
shaft, the end of which is fitted into a socket in the platform. The shaft is
supported by a hearing, and keyed upon the shaft within the bearing is a small
horizontal pulley. Two arms hang from the top of the shaft, one on either side,
being fastened, so as to work freely, by a bolt through themselves, and through the
top of the shaft, and are connected with a moveable collar on the shaft by short
subsidiary arms, extending from the collar to about midway of the principal arms.
At the rounded end of the platform is placed a horizontal driving wheel, with a
handle for turning by. This driving wheel is connected with the smaller pulley ou
the shaft by a strap or belt. Upon the driving wheel being turned, the shaft in
the centre revolves, the arms upon the shaft revolving with it, and rising and
extending during revolution, thereby coming into contact with the four crossbars
upon the uprights, causing them also to revolve. If the speed of revolution be
slightly increased, the arms, rising still higher, will come into contact with the
figures upon the crossbars tilting them over, and causing them to fall off. The
revolutions may be continued until the whole of the figures are struck and have
fallen off. The game may be played by any number of persons, each player
turning the driving wheel for a stated length of time, the winner being the player
who succeeds in knocking down the greatest number of figures..
Dated this Twentieth day of November 1893.
ARTHUR JOSEPH BENN.
WILLIAM BULMER SIMPSON.

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We, ARTHUR JOSEPH BENN and WILLIAM BULMER SIMPSON both of
Stainton House Carter Gate, Great Grimsby in the County of Lincoln 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 reference being had to the accompanying sheet of drawings and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
This invention relates to a new or improved mechanical toy or game and consists
of a base or platform in or about the centre of which is mounted a vertical spindle
carrying arms at its upper part which arms are adapted to fly apart by centrifugal
force when the said spindle is rapidly rotated somewhat after the manner of the
arms of a steam engine governor. Within the path described by the ends of the
said arms when running at a high speed we provide four or other convenient number
of crossbars or toothed discs having soldiers or other toy figures mounted in a
moveable manner thereon. Suitable means are provided for rapidly rotating the
central spindle, the arms of which are thereby raised and as the speed is increased
the ends of such arms come into contact first with the crossbars or toothed discs
causing them to rotate also, and (on the speed being still further increased) after-
wards with the soldiers or other toy figures, and if the blow thereby given to the
said figure be of sufficient force it releases it from its fixing on the cross bar or
toothed disc and the player scores. The player who succeeds in removing the
greatest number of figures in a given space of time wins the game.
Figure 1 of the accompanying sheet of drawings is a plan view and Figure 2 a
section on line X X of Figure 1 illustrating a convenient form of apparatus or
mechanical toy by which our game may be played. A is the base or platform
which as well as the other parts of the toy may be of wood, metal or any suitable
material and be ornamented or decorated in any desired manner. The base or
platform A may also be of any suitable shape and size. B is a vertical spindle
adapted to rotate in a footstep B₁ formed in the base or platform A and in a
suitable bearing B in the bridge C. D is a driving wheel adapted to be con-
veniently turned by hand and from which motion is imparted by the cord or band E
to the small pulley B³ on the central spindle B. F. F. are arms jointed at their
inner ends F to the spindle as shewn their suitably shaped outer ends F' being
preferably weighted and provided with felt or other like material F3 (Figure 1) to
lessen the noise and prevent damage to the parts struck when the game is being
played. G are four standards fixed to the base or platform A at an equal distance
radially from the spindle B, each of which standards is furnished with a toothed
disc H carrying the toy figures I. These discs H rotate freely on their axes and
the toy figures I are so mounted thereon that they may be easily but not too easily
knocked off by a blow from the end F2 of one of the arms F. A convenient
method of mounting the said figures is illustrated in the full size detail views
Figures 3 and 4. Figure 3 being an end elevation of oue of the teeth of the
discs H and Figure 4 a plan thereof. J, is a pin the eye J¹ of which is free to
turn on the screw J2 as shewn. K, is a spring clip which holds the pin J in the
vertical position when it is desired to place the toy figure I thereon by passing the
said pin into a hole in the bottom of the figure. When so mounted the toy figure I
is held in a vertical position by the action of the spring clip K and slot L but when
struck (in the direction of the arrow shewn in Fig. 3) with sufficient force to free
the pin J from the spring clip K, the said pin turns on the screw J' until it assumes
a vertically pendant position see left hand side of Figure 2 and the toy figure I
falls off same by gravity. Or, in some cases instead of the spring clip K being
employed the pins J may be provided with counterpoise weights which shall tend

page_text: to keep the toy figure vertical but shall also allow such figure to fall off when it
assumes a sufficiently inclined position.
In starting the game the toy figures I are placed in position on their respective
pins J (or other equivalent device) and the first player rotates the wheel D and
causes the arms F to rise by centrifugal action until their ends F' come into gear
as it were, with the toothed discs D one after the other causing them to turn more
or less rapidly on their respective axes. On the player increasing the speed or by
otherwise suitably manipulating the wheel D the ends F of the arms F are brought
above the plane of the discs and should such discs be in a suitable position the
ends F will then strike one or more of the toy figures I. If such blow be
sufficiently strong the figure struck will be removed from the disc as hereinbefore
described; but otherwise the blow will only cause the disc to rotate on its axis.
After a certain predetermined time the first player retires, having marked his
score, and the second player takes his place and so on, the toy figures I being
placed in position before each player commences, and the winner being the player
who knocks over the greatest number of toy figures during his term.
The standards and other parts may be so arranged as to be readily taken apart
so that the toy may be packed away into a comparatively small space.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
First. The new or improved mechanical toy or game which consists of one or
more rotatory crossbars, arms, or discs, adapted to support toy figures or other
objects movably attached thereto, and of one or more arms hinged or jointed to a
rotating shaft, and adapted to be acted upon by centrifugal force when rotated so
as to be brought into contact with the said crossbars, arms, or discs, or with the
said toy figures or other objects, substantially as described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
Second. In a mechanical toy or game of the kind herein described the means of
mounting the toy figures or other objects movably on the crossbars, arms, or discs,
which consists of the hinged pin or stem J, the stop L, and the spring clip K
substantially as described with reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings.
Third. The new or improved mechanical toy or game combined, arranged, and
operating substantially as described.
Dated this 21st day of August 1894