US118441A - Improvement in toy-toads - Google Patents

Description

l JAMES FA'LLOWS Toy Toad. N0. 118,441. Paentved -u'g. 29,1871.

'Wnessem INVENTOR:

PATENT CFFCE.

JAMES FALLOWS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN TOY-TQADS.

t Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 118,441, dated August 29, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Jiri/ms FALLows, of the city of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in the ToyT0ad, of which the following is a specification My improvements relate to the toy in which a toad is caused to advance quickly from its den against a fixed or rigid upright having a projecting shelfl upon which a penny (the object to be seized as prey) is loosely placed for the purpose, and by the sudden impact, consequent uponthe advance of the toad being thus suddenly checked, causes the said penny to be projected into the open mouth and throat of the animal; and my invention consists in the construction and arrangement, in combination with a toy-toad and case, ofthe certain devices, hereinafter described, whereby the toad advances, seizes, and swallows the penny, and instantly backs with it into its den and there drops it through an opening in the case; the object of my invention being the production of a more perfectly-operating and interesting toy for children.

Figure 1 is a side elevation, of nearly full size, embodying my invention, the rear side of the case and den being removed in order to show the interior. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the top of the case Without the toad and den, and of like size with Fig. l. Figs. 3, 4, 5 are detached parts of of the mouth and throat of the toad enlarged to full size. Fig. 6 is a vertical central section (longitudinal) of the fixed upright for holding the penny. Y

The case A is an oblong box entirely open at its bottom, and having in its slightly-sunken top a central longitudinal slot, a, extending from the upright penny-holder a" near the one end to a large circular opening, a", at vthe other end. Over the latter is an arched roof or covering, a4, which forms the den of the toad B. The animal isixed rigidly upon a plate of sheet metal, b', which will be free to slide along on the top of the case A, and is iixed, by connections passing through the slot a', to an under plate, b, from which latter project downward the two stems b b4, so that all may move together steadily. The stem b4is connected to the den end of the case A at 5 by means of a short cord or strip, 6, of gumelastic. (See Fig. 1.) To hooks at the opposite end of Aa small ring of elastic gum, 7, is attached,

which can be stretched by ones iin ger so as to be readily slipped up over lower end of stem b" and be thus retained when the toad is in the den a4, as shown in the same gure. Across the bottom of the case A, near its penny-holder end, there is fixed a bar, S, in a position a little lower down in the case than the lower end of the stem b, so that when 'the toad is drawn forward by the elastic ring 7 nearly to the extent of the slot a the said cross-bar 8 (being above the said elastic ring) will push the latter down oifof the stein b, and thus permit the then stretched and tightened cord 6 to contract and suddenly draw the toad B back into its den a4, where it will be retained by the catch-hook 9, which passes over and catches behind a cross-bar, 0, at that end of the case A. The upright a" has a projecting shelf, 10, and a cap-plate, 1l, connected together at their side edges so as to leave an open space between them in front for the reception and support of a penny, 12, in such a manner that while the latter will be loose yet it will be prevented from being easily thrown off laterally. The mouth .and throat of the toad B is produced by cutting sheet metal into the form shown in Fig. 3, then bending each of the tongues C C upward to a right angle with the part c', which forms the lower jaw of the toad. The two parts C G are then bent in ward toward each other and so as to form springs which will part readily by the entrance of the penny between them as the toad springs upon it for the purpose, and close around it sufficiently to prevent a withdrawal of the same as the toad immediately afterward springs back again into its den. rIhis lower jaw is soldered fast to the throat-piece of the toad so as to leave a sufficiently open space between the two jaws for a mouth, into which the penny with its supporting and holding-plates l0 11 may freely enter.

In operating this toy, the toad beingheld in posi tion in the den a4 bythe hook 9, the elastic ring 7 is, by ones linger, stretched along iuider the crossbar 8 and slipped up over the lower end of stem b". The penny l2 is then placed between the plates l0 11 of the upright a", and when the catch-hook 9 is detached from its cross-bar o the toad springs forward, takes in the penny, and immediatelyis drawn back into its den by the springcord 6, the elastic ring 7 being just previously detached from the stem 71 by the cross-bar 8, and the penny drops down through the hole a.

I am aware that a patent was granted to George E. Brigman, dated August 16, 1870, for certain arrangements and combinations of mechanical devices with a toy-toad, whereby the toad is caused to suddenly slide forward, strike a lever and platform7 and then slightly rebound in such a manner that a penny or other object laid on the platform will be projected by said lever into the open mouth of the toad, which latter has then to be drawn back and reset by hand for repeating the operation. Therefore, I do not desire to claim said combinations and arrangements; but

What I desire to secure by Letters Patent is confined to the following:

' l. In combination'with the upright a, the two projecting plates 10 1l, connected together at their sides and left separate in front, substanset forth.

JAMES FALLOWS.

" Witnesses Y:V

BENJ. MoRIsoN,

WM. H. MoRIsoN.

Images