COME LEIE CIUITIVATION, A New or Improved Toy.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 24th July, 1897-Accepted, 11th Sept., 1897
COME LEIE CIUITIVATION,
A New or Improved Toy.
I, THOMAS CHILDS, of 43, Flaxman Road, Brixton, S.E., Gentleman, 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 new or improved toy, the object of which is to provide
a simple device for projecting a ball in the air or in any required direction, said
device, when closed, forming a suitable receptacle wherein the ball may be caught,
the whole forming a novel, interesting and amusing toy, while it also provides
the essentials for an amusing game, where two or more persons are each furnished
with my improved device; their object, being in this case, to project the ball from
one to another.
In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will now proceed to
describe same with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a
side elevation of my improved toy with the ball in position, the second position
of same viz. that which it occupies when the ball has been projected, being shown
in dotted lines.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the toy.
My improved toy comprises two side frames a and b pivoted together at the lower
ends e, while suitably secured to a cross rods a¹, &, of the said frames, are the
ends d of a flexible pocket or flap f each side of which is preferably formed with
a stiffened side or panel g. The meeting edges of the frames may be furnished
with metal discs or cymbals to emit a musical sound upon the frames being
closed together.
In the normal position of the parts that is with the toy or device ready for
projecting the ball, they occupy the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2, while upon
grasping the tops of the side frames and quickly drawing them apart the material f
forming the aforesaid pocket is stretched or drawn taut thus projecting the ball m
into the air, as indicated in dotted lines (Fig. 1), while upon quickly closing the
side frames together a receptacle is provided wherein the ball may be caught.
It is obvious that a simple strip of suitable fabric without side stiffenings or
panels may be employed in connection with the side frames for projecting the ball,
while upon the other hand it is equally obvious that two stiff panels hinged
together at their bottom ends and at their top ends hinged to the cross rods a¹, b¹,
of the frames a, b, would equally well effect this purpose.
I wish it to be understood that I do not restrict myself to the particular formn of
side frames a and b herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
as it is obvious that any form of side frames admitting of a strip of material being
stretched between them or allowing of hinged panels or the like being quickly
brought to a horizontal or approximately horizontal position, could be employed
with equal effect.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The new or improved toy substantially as herein described and shown, and
for the purposes specified.
2. The new or improved toy comprising essentially a strip of fabric for hinged
panels arranged between suitable side framés a and b in such a manner as to allow
of a ball m being projected into the air upon smartly drawing apart or opening
said side frames a, b, substantially as herein described and shown, and for the
purposes specified.
3. In a toy or device to be used as a toy or game, the arrangement of a strip of
suitable flexible material or of hinged panels between side frames of suitable
construction for the purpose of projecting a ball, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of July 1897.
F. G. CASSELL
(Of Cassell & Co.),
22, Glasshouse Street, Regent Street, London, W.,
Agent for the Applicant.